Purple Passion Plant (Gynura Aurantiaca)

Why Gothic Gardeners Love It

• Rich green foliage dusted in electric purple fuzz

• Otherworldly texture that looks almost unreal

• A striking contrast plant for moody, gothic interiors

• Pet-safe despite its wild appearance!

• Beginner-friendly with high visual payoff

Details

The Purple Passion plant is a living contradiction—in the best way. Its deep green, serrated leaves are cloaked in fine violet hairs that shimmer under the right light, giving the plant an almost supernatural glow. This exotic texture makes it a standout in gothic gardens, dark decor spaces, and curated plant collections where drama matters.

Despite its bold and unusual appearance, Purple Passion is refreshingly easy to care for. It thrives indoors with minimal effort and rewards growers with lush trailing growth when given the right conditions. As the plant matures, it may produce small orange flowers - they provide an interesting cintrast, but smell bad. Pretty funny, but most growers choose to trim them.

This is a plant chosen not for subtlety, but for presence.

Care & Growing Notes

Light: Bright, indirect light. Strong light enhances the purple coloration, but harsh direct sun can scorch the leaves.

Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Keep soil lightly moist but never soggy. Overwatering will dull the foliage and invite root issues.

Soil: Well-draining potting mix. A standard indoor houseplant soil with added perlite works well.

Growth Habit: Trailing and spreading. Grow in hanging baskets or allow to spill dramatically over shelves and planters, or trim to maintain a bushy appearance.

Difficulty: Extremely easy / beginner-friendly

Mature Size: 12–18 inches tall, trailing stems can reach 2–3 feet long indoors.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Zones 9–11 outdoors. Always check local regulations, as it may be invasive in some regions!

Toxic to Pets: No! Safe for cats and dogs.

Fertilizer: Monthly during spring and summer with balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer. No fertilizer needed in fall and winter.