Saccharum officinarum 'Violacea'

Saccharum officinarum 'Violacea', commonly known as purple sugarcane, is an ornamental variety with large leaves that start off very dark purple in their youth and then turn dark green, tinged with red and purple! Purple sugarcane forms a giant clump of thick upright stems carrying ribbon-like leaves, about 1m (3ft) long, that gracefully arch with age, giving a spreading appearance to this grass. Less frost-tolerant than the species, it is an interesting grass to acclimatize in urban gardens or under mild climates, taking care to cover the base with a thick mulch and allowing the foliage to wither to provide additional protection against the cold. Very vigorous and fast-growing, it can also be grown as an annual or kept in a large pot for overwintering. A moist and rich soil in full sun is essential.

Purple sugarcane is a variety of the classic sugarcane, grown for sugar and cane juice. It is a perennial grass belonging to the large family of Poaceae. It is a grass widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions where it can reach a height of 5m (16ft), but it is probably native to the archipelago of Melanesia. It is a grass that likes light, heat, humidity, and rich, well-drained soil that remains fresh. Indeed, it develops between 10°C (50°F) and 30°C (86°F). The 'Purpureum' cultivar is a beautiful horticultural selection of this species, sought after for the beauty of its dark foliage with red and purple shades.

Saccharum officinarum 'Violacea', rooted on powerful trailing rhizomes, quickly forms a dense, erect clump composed of woody and robust canes, which can reach 2 to 5cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, smooth and dark reddish-brown, very aesthetic. These canes can rise up to 2.5m (8ft) above the ground, and the clump spreads to 2m (7ft) in width. Each cane has long internodes, separated by nodes from which all the leaves emerge. The very long leaves are alternate, opposite, linear, pointed at their tips, sheathing at the base, and they spread out and curve with age. The leaves start off very dark purple and then turn dark green, with wide tinges of purple and red. The leaves measure up to 1m (3ft) in length and 2 to 10cm (1 to 4in) in width, with sharp edges in one direction. They are deciduous. Purple sugarcane is not known for its late summer flowering, with silky terminal panicles 50 to 100cm (20 to 39in) long, bearing tiny white flowers. It does not flower regularly as it requires specific climatic conditions to flower, which are rare in our regions. The plant is frost-sensitive but more resistant than the species. It can be acclimatized in regions where temperatures never fall below -5°C (23°F).

Purple sugarcane is prized for its purple foliage and fast growth, which allows it to be grown as an annual in less favourable climates. Its dark foliage offers beautiful contrasts with brighter or lighter colors, such as the chartreuse blooms of some ornamental tobacco plants or the golden foliage of ornamental sweet potatoes. In the background of a flowerbed, along the edge of a pond, near a swimming pool, it provides volume and height, while remaining light, or it forms a temporary windbreak. In the Mediterranean, combine it with Daturas, Yuccas, and the vibrant blooms of Oleanders. Associating it with other plants can sometimes be a challenge, as it does tend to spread and has a strong personality. However, it can accompany hardy banana trees, large yellow-flowering daylilies, or Colocasias in an exotic setting.