VITIS VINIFERA ‘PURPUREA’

We love purple-coloured leaves – and while there is a wealth of red-leaved perennials, annuals, trees and shrubs to choose from there are fewer options when it comes to climbers. Essentially the choice is between a single Clematis montana and this Vitis vinifera, which has lobed leaves that are purple-tinted in summer and turn a richer plum colour later in autumn. The leaves are beautiful, but the grapes are not particularly worth picking – even birds reject them – but they will hang on a wall or pergola until December. AGM*.

Height 8m. Origin Garden origin (species central and southern Europe). Conditions Well-drained soil; full sun to part shade. Hardiness RHS H6. Season of interest Summer to autumn.