When grown as an ornamental, this plant requires some protection from winter frosts. This species and the cultivers 'Purple Eye' and 'Silver Lace', with cream-margined leaves, have all gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Treatment of seeds with a smoke solution has been shown to increase the leaf mass and height of T. violacea seedlings. Seeds exposed to aerosol smoke was also shown to lead to a higher seedling survival percentage. Plant has got a Garlic cent odour.