This attractive species grows on limestone hills in the province of Guangxi in south central China.  There are currently two collections; one with dark leaves, like the image shown above and another with lighter leaf coloration. The lighter coloration is seldom seen in cultivation.

P. atropurpurea can be an outstandingly attractive plant in cultivation. Flowers are typically produced in a substantial flush when grown well, and a small plant can produce upwards of 15 large flowers at a time. The dark glossy and leathery foliage is also attractive, and the tight rosettes the species produces are very interesting.

The species has an interesting flowering habit, not unlike other species such as P. subrhomboidea. At some point in the growing season, usually in the fall in natural conditions but more variably in cultivation indoors, tiny buds are formed on very short stalks in the leaf axils. These can stay in place, unchanged, for months. At some point (perhaps increasing daylength in natural conditions) these start to elongate and quite quickly develop into substantial flower stalks often with many flowers. It is unclear what triggers this cycle in plants grown in relatively unchanging circumstances indoors.

Additional photos can be seen in a slideshow by clicking one of the links below:

• The same plant as that featured above, on a different occasion and photographed from above
• A flower close-up
• The lighter-leaved form in flower
• A dark leaved form with a very great many buds, exhibited at the 2026 convention show of The Gesneriad Society
• A close view of the many buds on this 2026 show plant