Purple Passion

How to care for Purple Passion

Light

Gynura aurantiaca requires bright indirect light to maintain its characteristic purple colouration. A position near an east- or west-facing window is ideal, offering a few hours of gentle direct sun without the intensity of a south-facing aspect. Insufficient light causes the purple pigmentation to fade significantly and stems to become leggy; however, harsh afternoon sun through glass can scorch the delicate, hairy leaves.

Watering

Water moderately during spring and summer, allowing the top 2-3 cm of compost to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering in autumn and winter when growth slows. It is important to water at the base of the plant or to pour water carefully around the soil rather than over the foliage, as moisture sitting on the hairy leaves encourages botrytis and rotting. Overwatering is the most common cause of plant failure, leading to root rot.

Soil and potting

A well-draining, aerated compost is essential. A mix of peat-free multipurpose compost combined with approximately 30% perlite or coarse grit provides good drainage while retaining sufficient moisture. Avoid heavy, water-retentive soils, which increase the risk of root rot. A slightly acidic to neutral pH in the range of 6.0-7.0 is suitable.

Feeding

Feed with a balanced, diluted liquid fertiliser every two to four weeks during the active growing season from spring through to early autumn. A formulation with roughly equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is appropriate. Avoid feeding in winter when the plant is resting, as excess nutrients at this time can accumulate in the soil and cause root damage.

Humidity and temperature

Gynura aurantiaca prefers moderate humidity between 40-60% and warm temperatures in the range of 15-27°C. It will tolerate average household humidity in most cases, though very dry air in centrally heated rooms can cause leaf tip browning. Avoid positioning the plant near radiators, cold draughts, or air-conditioning vents. Temperatures below 10°C can cause serious damage and the plant should not be exposed to frost under any circumstances.

Repotting

Repot in spring every one to two years, or when roots begin to emerge from the drainage holes. Move up by one pot size only, as too large a container increases the risk of waterlogging. Given that older plants tend to become straggly and less attractive, many growers find it more practical to propagate fresh cuttings every two or three years rather than continually repotting a declining specimen.

Pruning

Regular pinching out of the growing tips encourages a bushier, more compact habit and delays the onset of the leggy, sprawling growth that characterises older plants. Remove flower buds as soon as they appear; besides their unpleasant smell, allowing the plant to flower and set seed often triggers a decline in vigour. In spring, cutting stems back by a third can help rejuvenate a plant that has become untidy.

Is Purple Passion toxic?

Common problems

How to propagate

Stem-tip cuttings

Take cuttings of 8-12 cm from healthy, non-flowering stems, remove the lower leaves, and insert into a moist mix of perlite and multipurpose compost. Place in a warm, bright spot out of direct sun and roots typically develop within three to four weeks.

Water propagation

Stem-tip cuttings can be placed in a glass of water in a bright, warm position. Change the water every few days and pot the cutting into compost once roots reach approximately 2-3 cm in length.

Where Purple Passion comes from

Native to Java, Indonesia.

Story and origins

The genus name Gynura derives from the Greek words 'gyne' (woman or female) and 'oura' (tail), referring to the elongated, feathery stigmas of the flowers. The species epithet 'aurantiaca' comes from the Latin 'aurantiacus', meaning orange-coloured, and alludes to the colour of the small composite flowers rather than to the striking purple foliage for which the plant is known. The common name 'Velvet Plant' describes the texture created by the dense covering of hairs on the leaves and stems.

Gynura aurantiaca was first formally described by the Dutch botanist Carl Ludwig Blume in the early nineteenth century, based on specimens collected in Java, Indonesia, where the plant grows naturally in forest margins and disturbed ground. It was introduced to Western horticulture during the Victorian era, a period of considerable enthusiasm for tropical foliage plants, and became a popular conservatory and greenhouse subject. It gained renewed popularity as a houseplant through the latter half of the twentieth century, particularly valued for the novelty of its coloured foliage at a time when most commonly available houseplants offered predominantly green leaves.

Varieties to know

Gynura aurantiaca 'Purple Passion'

The cultivar most commonly sold as a houseplant; compact and trailing habit with intensely coloured purple hairs.

Gynura procumbens

A closely related species sometimes confused with G. aurantiaca; less hairy and more commonly used in traditional medicine across South-East Asia.

Fun facts

• The vivid purple colouration of Gynura aurantiaca comes not from the leaf tissue itself but from tiny, densely packed violet-coloured trichomes (hairs) covering the surface.
• The species epithet 'aurantiaca' refers to orange, the colour of its small flowers, making the name somewhat ironic given that the plant is famous for its purple appearance.
• The flowers of Gynura aurantiaca have a distinctly unpleasant odour often compared to rotting matter, and most growers remove the buds before they open.
• As a member of the Asteraceae family, each apparent 'flower' is actually a composite flowerhead made up of many tiny individual florets.
• Plants tend to deteriorate in appearance after two to three years, and experienced growers routinely propagate fresh cuttings to maintain a neat, colourful display.

Purple Passion FAQ