Purple Velvet Plant
Common Name: Purple Passion Vine, Purple Velvet Plant
Latin Name: Gynura sarmentosa
Family: Asteraceae
Plant Type: Tropical Perennial
Origin: Indonesia
Blooming Time: Spring, early summer
Humidity: High
Temperature: 65 – 85*F
Height: 9′ or more
Color: Green, purple
Insects and Diseases: Aphids, mealy bugs
Description:
The Purple Velvet Plant is a gorgeous plant that has greenish leaves covered with a velvety purple fuzzy hairs. Each leaf has multiple tips and the underside is generally a reddish purple. Blooms are a yellowish orange color and have a very bad odor.
Lighting:
Purple Passions should be placed where it can receive bright, but filtered sunlight. If the plant doesn’t get enough lighting it’s leaves will start to fade and it will lose it’s brilliant purple color.
Watering:
The Purple Passion has delicate roots and soil should be kept moderately moist at all times. The soils surface can be allowed to dry slightly between waterings. Avoid over watering as the plant is very prone to root rot.
Soil:
Use a good potting soil that retains moisture but will drain well. Rocks can be added to the bottom of the pot for extra drainage. The roots will quickly rot if they’re allowed to sit in drenched soil.
Fertilization:
Fertilize your Purple Passion every week during the growing periods. Use a high quality, water soluble plant food and mix to half the recommended strength. Feeding should be stopped or decreased through the winter months, unless you can tell that the plant is still growing.
Propagation:
Purple Passion can be easily propagated through stem cuttings any time of the year. Cuttings can be kept in water until the roots have grown. You can also place the cutting into a good quality potting soil. Roots will normally appear within one to two weeks.
Toxicity-Poisonous:
The toxicity level of Purple Passion differs in opinions. While it is listed on the non-toxic plant list and is generally thought to be non-poisonous, it should not be ingested. And, some people may have an allergic reaction to the plant.
Written by Connie Corder for HouseplantsForYou.com, Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved
That’s a gorgeous pic of Purple Passion. Thanks so much for such relevent info on care and propagation. Will come in very handy when the plant I’ve ordered arrives. I’m so looking forward to rooting cuttings and having lots of plants. Have also ordered two hindu rope plants (one variegated), which also root well from cuttings. What fun it’s going to be !
Thank you for the information I Love the looks of this plant and I have really been having a problem trying to find these plant. When I do find them on the internet the shipping cost is more than the plant. Can you help???
Home Depot has them. I’m going to buy one
Which Home Depot? I live in Sacramento, California
I live in Michigan and have tried to get this plant. I know that this plant is very delicate and tempermental. If I have it shipped will it be okay and who is reputable to buy from in my area so that I can get it in one peice?
I found a beautiful Purple Passion Plant, but it is covered with aphids. What is the best way to get rid of them?
I don’t know if you are still having a problem with the aphids but I have found the best way to get rid of them especially on delicate plants is just a mixture of soap and water in a spray bottle and remember to spray the underside of leaves also!
Thank you so much for this information on the purple velvet plant. My mom has several of these plants in her house. She pinched one off and put it in water and when it got lots of roots she gave it to me. This is the only plant that I have been able to keep alive for more then a month or so….always forgetting to water my plants so they die. But not this one!!! Well my mom passed away last week and I never knew the name of the plant so I looked it up. The name fits it perfect! My mom loved these because they seem to change color from purple to green when you move them around. Now with this information I can now continue what my mom has always done. Let them grow pinch put in water and let them grow some more. Them give the piches to friends, family and more!! Thank you so much. Diane
i took a slip from my purple passion it had roots put in soil now the bottom leaves our dropping is this normal or am i going to lose the plant.
This plant is lovely and very low maintance
The color is a nice pop to a container garden.
Tari: I purchase one at Home Depot, but there is here in Florida. Talk to a nursary, they might be able to special order a plant or help you to find one!
I just bought two of these at Lowe’s, they’re almost impossible to find here in Ky to. I do know that some of the nursery’s have them, but they’re really high there. These are one of my all time favorite plants.
I’ve never had a problem with aphids or spider mites, but I’ve read that you can mix a little bit of insecticidal soap in some water and spray it on them. As far as having one shipped, I would think that if it’s a reputable seller and they package it right it should be fine. All the places I’ve looked at online ship plants priority, so it wouldn’t be boxed up long.
I purchased mine at Home Depot as well, in Virginia. It is very important to follow the watering instructions. I lost my first one, which was a gift, to root rot. I’m hoping to have better luck this time.
I bought mine at Home Depot in Texas. I didn’t know I could pinch it off & root like that. Mine is growing into one long vine. Thanks for the help!
I bought one of these on ebay last year. I was getting ready to buy another one because mine is just one stem/vine. I did not know that I could pinch them off and let them root. Should I pinch a leaf off…or does it have to be the main stem?
To Diane…I’m sorry for the loss of your mother.
HI my name is maria gonsalves I adore the purple velvet plant I have called some nurseries to buy this beautiful plant if you can mail me the plant I would be so grateful
I love that beautiful velvet if you can send me please let me know I will be looking for your response thank you so very much
Maria,
Depending on where you live, Shoprite, HomeDepo, and Lowe’s are a few stores that carry the Purple Passion plant.
I had one of these passed from my late mother. Sadly it was in an unheated summer home one night too long and it died. I raised my plant under lights to keep the beautiful color and fertilized with half strength Miracle gro. It did beautifully and was a delight.
This is my fav, plant but its very hard to keep alive
I got mine from Shaws.
To those who say that the Purple Velvet is hard to find I agree. It took me close to 8 years to find one. i am also glad to know that I can do cuttings. The only plant I could find was a HUGE hanging basket. Just waiting for it to fall on someones head. (cross fingers) Good luck in finding one.
I got one of these plants justrecently. However i noticed that there are little flying bugs on it that stay close to the soil, could you please help me with this? What are these and how do i get rid of them. I believe the place i got them from has a problem because one of my other plants i bought from there has them too. Thanks,
These are super easy to root in water and can be indefinitely grown in nothing but water. But, they won’t sprout from leaves, you have to have a piece of the stem. I try to cut sections that have at least two sets of leaves. The roots form at the leaf nodes where the leaves grow on the vines. Cut the bottom leaves off before putting them in water and make sure that the water covers the leaf node.
my plant has grown very tall. can I clip it, it has leaves at the top? I love this plant and do want to ruin it but I want to grow another and add to it.
Kim,
cut just above a branch. peel off branch and put in water. When you feel there are enough roots, plant in new pot and enjoy!
where can i buy the house plant gynura sarmentosa from i lost mine after having it for so long kind regards marian
@ marian you can buy them online at Amazon or e bay There may even be an online plant store where you can pick many types if there are different types I know nothing at all about these plants but at the first tow places I suggested you should find them at low prices. Hope you can find some good lick
I have had some luck finding these plants at Lowe’s and WalMart on occasion. And, there is a nursery not far from here that has them almost all the time, of course they’re a lot higher there. I have have always just had the purple ones, but there is a variegated variety that has creamy white throughout the purple and green. These are more rare and from what I’ve heard a little harder to grow. But, like I said I don’t have any experience with the variegated variety.
where can i buy the plant from
I have bought them at Lowe’s and WalMart. But you can find them online at Amazon or Ebay lot’s of the time.
December 19,2011
Please my beautiful purple passion is slowly dying. Thir health issue started @least 2 months, the leaves have a welting look and the coloring turns to pale yellowish green about average of 6 to 12 leaves at a time. I taken a cutting from the plant just in case, but the cuttings is still doing the same thing. Pease help, it took me meny years to find this plant
my puple velvet plant is dying =( its vines are drying up and the leaves are limp .
what can i do to revive what once was beautiful.
thanks .
where can i buy the house plant purple passion from and how much as ive just lost mine regards mariam
I got mine at Krogers in a tiny lil planter, I replanted it and it is growing like crazy! I love this plant it is beautiful! But I will say this, once it likes a spot don’t move it! They are temermental! I moved mine and she started dying! I like to say she threw a temper tantrum lol! Moved it back and started thriving again!
I bought one at Walmart in a small Valentine’s cup, replanted it and brought it to work. Everyone loves it, but it didn’t have the plant name–just stated tropical foliage. Well, now I know! It was only $1! I love it!
HELP! i just bought my plant at wallmart and its in bad shape. I’ve always wanted one as well. All walmarts plants were in bad shape from shipping they said but i didn’t want them to through it away plus i really wanted it. now i don’t know how to revive it. i transplanted it and placed it in the sun. hope someone can help me seems like everyone here knows plants. i also think its in shock.
thank you
tammy
I know this info is late, but for future reference the absolute best product for transplant shock is called Thrive (or any product containing mycchorizal fungi). The beneficial fungus attaches to the root system and makes more roots. Treat with Thrive and then fertilize one week later. I work at a nursery and this is the treatment we recommend.
Hi Tammy,
Follow posted watering and light suggestions. What always works for me with a sick plant are the Bach Flower Essences
Use Rescue Remedy, Gorse and Mimulus. 4 drops of each in your small watering container. Also use ionized water. Google “purple plates”. Ionized water replaces fertilizer.
Most importantly, talk to the plant, and touch it regularly.
Good luck,
Ann
Does anyone know what it means when some of the leave get brown spots on them?
I found mine at walmart in olean, ny for $1.50. Ive had it 6-7 months, its doubled in size, and although its supposed to bloom in spring/summer, mine has just now come to full bloom in Oct LOL
Hubby is sensetive to it, so I keep it in an un-used guest room when it blooms.