Purple Passion Plants: How to Propagate Purple Passion Plant

The purple passion plant (Gynura aurantiaca)—also known as the purple velvet plant—is an herbaceous perennial that belongs to the daisy family. These colorful vining plants have green leaves covered in dense purple hairs, giving them a variegated purple and green appearance and a velvety texture. Purple passion plant is native to southeast Asia, specifically Indonesia, and prefers warm climates. However, you can grow the plants year-round as houseplants.

In endemic climates, they are popular ground cover plants: These low and stocky growers grow between one and two feet tall with a four-foot spread. Additionally, the popular indoor plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs.

If you live in a cold climate, you can plant purple passion plants indoors year-round. If you live in a warm climate and want to plant purple passion as outdoor ground cover, do so after the temperatures warm up in the spring.

Purple passion plants thrive in temperatures between sixty-five and seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit and are endemic to USDA Hardiness Zones 10–12. For this reason, they make excellent indoor plants you can keep all year-round.

Purple passion plant seeds can be tricky to find and germinate, and the most successful way to grow the plant is to propagate stem cuttings. Follow this guide on how to propagate purple passion plants from stem cuttings.

1. 1. Obtain the cutting. Cut a healthy, three-to-four-inch branch off a mature purple passion plant using a sterile, sharp pair of garden scissors or shears. Remove most of the leaves from your cutting so that only four leaves remain. Dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone if you have it on hand to speed up the rooting process.
2. 2. Plant in a container. Fill a small container with vermiculite-amended potting soil and lightly moisten it. (Using well-draining potting soil will help prevent botrytis, a necrotrophic fungus that can affect these plants.) Use a pencil to poke holes deep enough in your potting mix for your three- to four-inch cutting. Stick the stem in the hole, then gently backfill it with soil to keep the cutting upright. Moisten the potting mix thoroughly.
3. 3. Tent in a plastic bag. Tent a clear plastic bag over your cutting and growing container. Place the growing container in a sunny windowsill until the plant sprouts new growth.
4. 4. Water and dry the leaves as needed. Remove the plastic bag to dry the leaves occasionally, and water your cutting regularly to keep the soil moist. Once new growth begins, move the plant into its final container or planting spot.

Purple passion plants only require basic routine maintenance. Follow these care tips to help your purple passion plants thrive:

1. 1. Keep out of direct sunlight. Direct, full sun will scorch the delicate leaves of your purple passion plants, but they love bright, indirect light. Keep your plant containers in an area that receives indirect, bright light or partial shade.
2. 2. Use a humidifier to prevent root rot. Purple passion plants are prone to overwatering and root rot, even though they are tropical, high humidity plants. Use a humidifier to increase the humidity of indoor environments so that your plants stay properly hydrated. You can also mist your plant’s leaves to regulate its humidity, but keep in mind that wet leaves can hasten rot.
3. 3. Pinch off emerging buds. Purple passion plants bloom orange flowers with an aroma that some find unpleasant. Snip or pinch off any emerging flower buds to avoid dealing with any messy, odorous flowers.
4. 4. Check for pests and diseases. Purple passion plants are susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, and grey rot. Use an insecticide or hose off the plants in the shower to help control pests. You can also prune away affected branches that are starting to die.
5. 5. Prune occasionally. Purple passions have a leggy growth habit, so you should prune them back occasionally to help maintain their compact shape.

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