These purple plants in water don’t just survive; they put on a beautiful display with colorful leaves, blooms, and fascinating roots!
Growing plants in water has its own beauty, especially when they’re bursting with shades of purple! So, here are some of the best purple plants you can grow in water that come with fuss-free care and maintenance in one beautiful setup!
Purple Plants You Can Grow in Water
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, which support our website. You can check out our Amazon storefront here for all kinds of essentials you’ll need.
1. Tradescantia Nanouk
Botanical Name: Tradescantia albiflora ‘Nanouk’
It’s hard not to admire those candy-colored stripes. Simply snip a healthy stem, place it in a jar of water, and before long you’ll see fresh white roots appear. It’s one of those plants that seems to enjoy showing off.
You can go ahead and purchase this wide glass bowl to give your plant enough space to spread.
2. Moth Orchid
Botanical Name: Phalaenopsis spp.
Growing a moth orchid in water may sound unusual, but many plant enthusiasts have success with semi-water culture. Instead of keeping the roots submerged all the time, let only the bottom roots touch the water and allow the rest to breathe.
Pro Tip: Refresh the water regularly and place the orchid in bright, indirect light to keep it healthy.
3. African Violet
Botanical Name: Streptocarpus ionanthus
Those tiny lavender blooms can brighten a windowsill for weeks. While mature plants are usually grown in soil, healthy leaf cuttings can be rooted in water first, making propagation both easy and rewarding.
Here are some of the best ways to keep African violets at home! And a tall glass vase is the best buy for keeping your orchids this way.
4. Purple Shamrock
Botanical Name: Oxalis triangularis
Those butterfly-like leaves have a habit of opening during the day and folding again at night, which makes this plant fascinating to watch. Root a healthy division in water first, and you’ll have one of the most amazing purple plants around.
5. Purple Velvet Plant
Botanical Name: Gynura aurantiaca
Those velvety green leaves edged in rich purple are hard to miss. Their stem cuttings root readily in water, and the colorful foliage paired with a network of fine white roots creates a beautiful display in a clear glass container.
For an attractive display, you will need to buy this attractive glass vase. A tall cylinder vase beautifully showcases both the purple stems above the water and the growing roots below.
6. Purple Sweet Potato Vine
Botanical Name: Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’
This fast-growing vine sends out long trailing stems with dramatic deep purple leaves that look gorgeous spilling over the sides of a vase. It grows happily in water for months as long as you refresh the water regularly and provide bright light.
7. Bloodleaf
Botanical Name: Iresine herbstii
Bloodleaf stands out for its rich burgundy-purple foliage and bright pink veins that seem almost painted onto each leaf. Healthy stem cuttings root easily in water, and the plant certainly makes a gorgeous sunny windowsill or desk showpiece!
These mini glass bottles are one of the best options for rooting African violet leaf cuttings.
8. Moses in the Cradle
Botanical Name: Tradescantia spathacea
Moses-in-the-Cradle is one of those plants that asks for very little in return. Just root an offset in clean water, keep it in bright, indirect light, and you’ll soon have a healthy new plant with bold purple-backed foliage. Simple, right?
Sometimes the simplest displays leave the biggest impression. A clear vase, fresh water, and a healthy cutting are all it takes to grow these gorgeous purple plants in a whole new way. Which one would you love to grow first?
Before you leave, do check out more purple plant varieties that you can grow in water!
