Plum or Purple? Decoding Slate Colours for Your Garden

Posted on 6th May 2025

If you've been searching online for purple slate chippings and keep coming across plum slate instead, you're not alone. It's one of the most common sources of confusion in garden and landscape design. But here’s the simple truth: plum slate and purple slate are exactly the same thing.

What’s the difference between purple slate and plum slate?

The short answer? Just the name.

Plum slate is the correct industry term for this beautifully rich, naturally coloured slate chipping. It’s quarried predominantly in North Wales, where slate has been extracted and shaped for centuries. The term plum refers to the distinctive colour – a deep, velvety tone with subtle purple and grey undertones that can vary slightly depending on lighting and moisture.

Many customers, however, refer to it more instinctively as purple slate. And it’s easy to understand why. When wet, the stone reveals stunning violet hues that appear almost regal. Whether dry or rain-kissed, this colour variation is part of what makes it so sought-after for landscaping projects across the UK.

So while “plum slate” is the correct term, don’t worry if you’ve been searching for purple slate chippings – they’re one and the same.

Why choose plum slate for your garden or driveway?

• Aesthetic versatility – Plum slate complements a wide range of design styles, from traditional cottage gardens to sleek, modern spaces.

• Colour that deepens with rain – Its surface comes alive when wet, enhancing purples and greys for seasonal interest.

• Low-maintenance and practical – Ideal for suppressing weeds, improving drainage, and providing a crisp finish around borders and beds.

• Eco-conscious choice – Our slate chippings are sustainably sourced, reducing the environmental footprint compared to synthetic alternatives.

• Great for water features – The reflective quality of wet slate makes it a perfect match for ponds and fountains.

Where can plum slate be used?

Plum slate is incredibly versatile. Use it in:

• Garden paths and walkways

• Decorative mulch for borders

• Rockeries and raised beds

• Around water features

• Driveways and ground cover

• Contemporary urban garden schemes

Find the right slate, whatever you call it

At Stone & Surfaces Direct, we stay true to traditional quarrying terminology – so you'll find plum slate listed across our site. But we also understand how people search, which is why we ensure terms like purple slate are included where helpful, so you can always find what you need. Shop plum slate chippings here.