Purple Majesty Plants

Purple Majesty Ornamental Millet

• An ideal annual for cold climates and striking in any garden, Purple Majesty ornamental millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is purple from stem to foot-long flowerheads. Purple Majesty is a rare All-America Selections Gold Medal Winner, a trouble-free ornamental grass that grows easily to 4 or 5 feet and thrives in intense sun and summer heat. Plants aren't bothered by pests or diseases, and do best in rich, fertile soil. To get a jump on the growing season, you can start seed indoors -- plants remain green until exposed to full sunlight -- then transplant them outdoors for three seasons of vigorous purple foliage.

Purple Majesty Salvia

• A hybrid cross between Salvia gesneraeflora and Salvia guaranitica, showy Purple Majesty sage starts producing its deep purple-blue flower spikes in midsummer and keeps going for months -- attracting a steady stream of hummingbirds too. Pinch back young deep-green stems early in the season to create bushier plants with more flowers. Plants do best in rich, loamy and well-mulched soils, so soil moisture remains steady. You can also grow this striking salvia in containers, to entice hummingbirds closer to decks or patios.

Purple Majesty Shrub

• There's a purple cultivar of the red fringe flower too -- Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum "Purple Majesty," a round-shaped evergreen shrub that grows 6 to 8 feet tall with graceful, arching branches. New foliage is dark burgundy, but matures to dark purple. Flowers are bright fuchsia, appearing in spring and continuing throughout the year. Plants are hardy to between 15 and 20 degrees F. They are very effective in grouped plantings or hedges and also as small specimen and potted patio trees.

Purple Majesty Potatoes

• Good for colorful, tasty baked and mashed potatoes, as well as fries and chips, the Purple Majesty variety was developed by Colorado State University. This early, medium-maturing potato has purple skin and deep purple flesh. Purple Majesty has antioxidant levels similar to blueberries -- and they get higher with processing. Plants are fast to emerge and easy to grow, producing potatoes with smooth, shiny skins. Purple Majesty potatoes also store well.