If you want to add dramatic color to your plant collection, few things compare to dark purple succulents. These stunningly deep-hued varieties bring a rich, almost mystical vibe to any space, from sunny windowsills to outdoor gardens.
Their color comes from natural pigments called anthocyanins, which are often intensified by sunlight and cool temperatures. This means you can actually influence how deep the purple gets. Let’s look at how to choose, grow, and care for these beautiful plants.
Dark Purple Succulents – Stunningly Deep-Hued Varieties
This category includes many species and hybrids, each with its own unique form. The purple can range from a soft lavender to a near-black wine color. Some show color all year, while others change with the seasons.
Top Picks for Your Collection
Here are some of the most reliable and beautiful dark purple succulents to look for:
- Echeveria ‘Black Prince’: A classic favorite. It forms tight rosettes that start green and mature to a deep, dark purple, almost brown in the center.
- Sempervivum ‘Bernstein’: A hardy cold-tolerant succulent. Its rosettes are a constant bronze-purple color, perfect for outdoor garden beds.
- Graptopetalum ‘Murasaki’: Known for its chubby, pointed leaves that take on a gorgeous violet-gray hue, especially at the tips.
- Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’: This one makes a statement. It has large, glossy, almost black rosettes on long, arching stems, looking like a dark flower.
- Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’: Offers upright growth with dense, plum-colored foliage. It produces pink flower clusters in late summer.
- Sinocrassula yunnanensis: A small, clustering succulent that forms rosettes of very dark, slender leaves covered in fine hairs.
How to Get Those Rich Purple Colors
Seeing more green than purple? Don’t worry. Achieving that intense color is part art, part science. It’s all about stressing the plant—in a good, controlled way.
- Provide Plenty of Sunlight: This is the number one factor. Most dark purple succulents need at least 4-6 hours of direct sun daily. Morning sun with some afternoon shade is often ideal in very hot climates to prevent sunburn.
- Manage Water Carefully: Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Slight drought stress signals the plant to produce more protective anthocyanins, enhancing the purple pigment.
- Expose to Cooler Temperatures: Many succulents show their best colors in the spring and fall when nights are cooler. A drop in temperature triggers a more vibrant display.
- Use a Well-Draining Soil: A gritty succulent mix is essential. It prevents root rot and supports the healthy stress needed for color. Avoid soils that stay wet for to long.
What If My Succulent is Turning Green?
If your dark purple succulent is reverting to green, it’s usually asking for more light. Gradually move it to a brighter location. Be patient, as color changes can take a few weeks. Also, check if your are over-fertilizing; too much nitrogen promotes green growth at the expense of color.
Essential Care Guide
Beyond color enhancement, these plants need standard succulent care to thrive.
Watering the Right Way
The “soak and dry” method is best. Water deeply until it runs out the drainage hole, then wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again. In winter, reduce watering frequency significantly, sometimes to once a month or less.
Soil and Pot Needs
Always plant in a pot with a drainage hole. Use a commercial cactus/succulent mix, or make your own with 50% potting soil and 50% perlite or pumice. Terracotta pots are excellent because they breathe and help soil dry faster.
Fertilizing for Health
Feed sparingly. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength, or a specialized succulent fertilizer. Apply only during the active growing season (spring and summer), once or twice at most.
Common Problems and Solutions
Even experienced gardeners face issues. Here’s how to troubleshoot.
- Leggy or Stretched Growth: This is etiolation—a sure sign of insufficient light. The plant is reaching for the sun. Provide more light and you can eventually behead the top to restart a compact rosette.
- Soft, Mushy Leaves: Usually indicates overwatering. Stop watering immediately, check for root rot, and repot into dry soil if necessary. Remove any affected leaves.
- Brown, Crispy Spots: Likely sunburn. If you’re moving a plant to brighter light, do it gradually over a week or two to let it acclimate. Provide some afternoon shade in extreme heat.
- Pests: Watch for mealybugs (white cottony spots) and aphids. Treat with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or a spray of insecticidal soap.
Design Ideas for Your Purple Succulents
These plants are fantastic design elements. Their dark color acts as a perfect contrast in arrangements.
- Combine them with bright green, blue, or orange succulents for a striking color wheel effect.
- Plant a single, large Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ in a pot as a dramatic focal point on a patio.
- Use trailing purple sedums like ‘Dark Desire’ in hanging baskets mixed with lighter trailers.
- Create a monochromatic dark container garden using several different purple varieties for texture contrast.
Propagating Your Favorites
Want more plants? Most dark purple succulents are easy to propagate.
- Leaf Propagation: Gently twist a healthy leaf from the stem. Let it callous over for 2-3 days, then place it on top of dry soil. Mist occasionally. Roots and a new baby plant will eventually form.
- Stem Cuttings: For leggy plants, cut the top rosette with a clean knife. Let it callous, then plant the stem in soil. Water lightly once roots establish.
- Offsets/Pups: Many varieties like Sempervivum and Echeveria produce small pups. You can carefully seperate these from the mother plant and pot them up individually.
FAQ About Dark Purple Succulents
Are there any truly black succulents?
While no plant is pure black, several like Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ or Echeveria ‘Black Prince’ get so dark purple they appear black, especially in bright light against a light background.
Why did my purple succulent turn green after I bought it?
Nurseries often grow plants in ideal, high-light conditions. In your home, light levels are probably lower. The plant is adapting by producing more chlorophyll (green pigment) to capture more light, which masks the purple.
Can these succulents survive frost?
Most are not frost-hardy. Exceptions include many Sempervivum (hens and chicks) and some Sedum species. Always check your specific plant’s cold tolerance. When in doubt, bring them indoors before the first frost.
How often should I water my indoor purple succulent?
There’s no set schedule. Always check the soil. In a typical home, watering every 2-3 weeks during growth season and once a month or less in winter is a good starting point. The pot should feel very light when dry.
Do they need special fertilizer to stay purple?
No, and too much fertilizer can make them greener. Use a light hand. The color is primarilly controlled by light and stress, not food. A low-nitrogen fertilizer can be beneficial if you choose to feed.
Adding dark purple succulents to your home is a rewarding way to enjoy living art. With their striking colors and sculptural forms, they offer endless interest. Remember, the key to those stunning deep hues is bright light, careful watering, and a little patience. Observe your plants, adjust their care as needed, and they will reward you with their incredible, almost jewel-toned beauty for years to come.