So many shade-loving plants are all about the foliage, and Persian Shield is no exception. Distinctive, purple and metallic green leaves can grow on branches up to three feet tall and two feet wide, but pinching the tips will create a denser, more compact specimen. Too much sun may bleach out the colors, so morning sun/afternoon shade or all-day dappled sun is optimal. Combine this gorgeous dark-leafed beauty with lighter, brighter foliage plants (hostas, ferns, or Japanese Forest Grass) or summer-blooming annuals such as begonias, impatiens, or torenia, in container planters or along borders for stunning contrasts in color and texture.