Green Hopseed vs Purple Hopseed
The short answer
They are the same plant, Dodonaea viscosa, with the same water, sun and pruning needs. Green Hopseed fills in a little faster and handles a bit more cold. Purple Hopseed has bronze-green leaves that turn deep purple in the cool months, for a darker screen or a color accent.
Side by side
| Green Hopseed | Purple Hopseed | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf color | Green all year | Bronze-green in summer heat, deep purple in cool weather |
| Mature size | 10 to 15 ft tall, 6 to 12 ft wide | 10 to 15 ft tall, 8 to 15 ft wide |
| Growth | Fast | Fast, a little less vigorous than green |
| Water once rooted | Low | Low |
| Sun | Full sun and reflected heat | Full sun for the deepest purple; leaves stay greener in shade |
| Cold hardy | About 15°F | About 18 to 20°F |
| Bloom | Not showy; papery seed capsules on female plants | Not showy; papery seed capsules on female plants |
| Hedge spacing | 3 to 5 ft apart | 4 to 5 ft apart |
| Pets | Mildly toxic | Mildly toxic |
| Best use | Green privacy screen | Darker screen, windbreak or color accent |
Choose Green Hopseed if...
- You want a solid green screen that fills in a little sooner.
- Your yard runs colder in winter. It is hardy to about 15°F.
- Part of the row gets some shade, where purple leaves would stay greener anyway.
Choose Purple Hopseed if...
- You want a darker backdrop than a green hedge.
- The spot gets full sun, which gives the richest purple.
- You want a color accent beside green or gray desert plants.
Questions people ask
Are Green and Purple Hopseed the same plant?
Yes. Both are Dodonaea viscosa. Purple Hopseed is the purple-leaf form, and the two grow, water and prune the same way.
Why is my Purple Hopseed green?
The purple is a cool-weather color. In summer heat the leaves turn bronze-green, then deepen to purple as the weather cools. Plants in shade stay greener.
Which one fills in faster?
Green Hopseed. Both are fast, but purple is a little less vigorous, so a green row closes in a bit sooner.
Can I plant both in one hedge?
Yes. They take the same water, sun and pruning. Many yards use green for the hedge and purple as an accent.
Which one handles cold better?
Green Hopseed is hardy to about 15°F. Purple Hopseed is rated to about 18 to 20°F. Frost in the low 20s can damage the leaves on either one.
Do they drop seed pods?
Female plants of both drop papery seed capsules in late summer and fall. Near a pool, some of them can end up in the water.
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