Purple heart
Tradescantia pallida · Family Commelinaceae
Also known as: tradescantia pallida, purple queen, setcreasea
- Light
- Bright indirect to full sun
- Watering
- Every 5 days
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Pet-safe
- No, keep it away from cats and dogs
Care
Where to put it
A sunny windowsill or summer patio pot.
Light
Bright light to full sun keeps the leaves deep purple.
Watering
Water when the top of the compost is dry. Tolerates short dry spells.
About the plant
With intensely purple leaves and stems, purple heart has become a common sight in gardens and hanging pots in Brazil. It is hardy, grows fast and takes on a stronger colour the more light it gets. In a pot it forms trailing clumps of 30 to 40 cm.
Origin
Native to eastern Mexico, where it creeps across open ground, slopes and forest edges.
What it likes
- Plenty of light, with a few hours of sun
- Water when the top of the compost dries
- Pruning to keep it bushier
What it dislikes
- Shade, which fades the purple
- Soggy compost
- Severe cold and frost
Did you know?
Tradescantia plants are used in research as bioindicators of air pollution, as their cells react to pollutants.
