Scientific Name
Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea'
Common Name(s)
Purple Heart, Purple Queen, Purple Spiderwort, Purple Wandering Jew
Synonym(s)
Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart', Tradescantia purpurea, Setcreasea purpurea, Setcreasea tampicana
Scientific Classification
Family: Commelinaceae
Subfamily: Commelinoideae
Tribe: Tradescantieae
Subtribe: Tradescantiinae
Genus: Tradescantia
Description
Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea', also sold as Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart', is a trailing plant with fleshy purple stems and purplish glaucous green leaves. It can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) tall. The leaves are narrowly elliptic, measuring up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and 1.2 inches (3 cm) wide.
The terminal flowers are bright pink, 3-petalled, and can reach up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) in width.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Growing Tradescantia is easy, and you will find the plants quite resilient. These plants typically grow in moist, well-drained, and acidic (pH 5 to 6) soil. Tradescantias do best in partial shade but will do equally well in sunny areas as long as the soil is kept moist.
You can grow Tradescantia indoors as long as suitable conditions are given. Provide the plant with a soilless mix or loam-based potting compost and keep it in bright filtered light. Pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier growth.
If feasible, allow it to spend warm spring and summer days outdoors. Water moderately during active growth and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every four weeks. Water sparingly in winter.
These plants like to be kept fairly moist, so water regularly, especially when growing in containers. Cutting the plants back once flowering has ceased can promote a second bloom and help prevent re-seeding. Cut the stems back about 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) from the ground.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Tradescantia.
Origin
Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea' is a cultivar of Tradescantia pallida with purple foliage. It has gained the Award of Garden Merit of the UK's Royal Horticultural Society.
Links
- Back to genus Tradescantia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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