Purple Heart

Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’

Characteristics

Culture

Purple Heart is easily grown in rich, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best purple leaf color occurs in full sun. Plants have good drought tolerance. Shelter plants from strong winds that may break the somewhat fragile stems.  It has 2 to 5+ inch long, narrow pointed purple leaves arranged alternately along thick herbaceous segmented stems. The leaves are covered in soft pale hairs. Their bases form a sheath around the stems. The three petaled purple-pink flowers with yellow stamens arise among the leaves near the tips of the branches primarily in summer but can often be seen at other times in frost free gardens. Plant in light shade or part sun in most any soil type and water regularly to occasionally – surprising drought tolerant for such a tropical looking plant. The leaf color varies with amount of sun and water with the best color in the brightest light.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Tradescantia pallida (synonymous with Setcreasea purpurea) is native to Mexico. In tropical and semi-tropical areas, it is commonly grown outdoors as a popular, albeit weedy, ground cover. It is commonly called purple heart. It has served for a number of years as a vigorous and attractive houseplant, but is now being increasingly used in outdoor garden applications as a ground cover and/or container plant. It typically grows to 8” tall with a trailing habit, and features thick but fragile stems clad with pointed, narrow-oblong, v-shaped leaves (4-6” long) that are sheathed to the stems. Stems will trail to 18” or more. Three-petaled, pink flowers (to 1.5” diameter) bloom in small clusters.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. This is a tough and easy-to-grow plant. On outdoor garden plants, young shoots are susceptible to damage from snails and caterpillars.

Garden Uses

Ground cover or edging that provides color and contrast to other plants. Excellent in containers. Downward-trailing stems are ideal for hanging baskets. Rock gardens, borders fronts, wall plantings. If grown in containers, pinch back stems as needed to maintain plant shape and to stimulate new growth. This plant is easily propagated by cuttings (seed is not available). Container plants may be cut back and brought indoors for overwintering.