Purple Heart
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Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea'
Tradescantia pallida, also known as Setcreasea purpurea, is native to Mexico. It is commonly grown outdoors in tropical and semi-tropical regions as a ground cover. Despite being a bit of a weed, it's still a popular choice. It's also a beautiful houseplant that has been used for many years. However, it's becoming increasingly popular for outdoor garden applications as a ground cover or container plant. This plant grows up to 8 inches tall and has a trailing habit. It has thick but fragile stems with pointed, narrow-oblong, v-shaped leaves that are sheathed to the stems. The stems can trail up to 18 inches or more. Small clusters of pink, three-petaled flowers bloom on this plant.
The cultivar Purpurea,' also known as 'Purple Heart,' has superior purple foliage to the species. Its stems and leaves are violet-purple.
Tradescantia pallida is a tender perennial that is winter-hardy to USDA Zones 10-11. It proliferates in rich, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Purple leaf color is best in full sun. The plant has good drought tolerance. However, it must be sheltered from strong winds that may break its fragile stems. After blooming, remove flower stems immediately. Pinch back stems as needed to maintain plant shape and promote new growth. Cuttings quickly propagate this plant, but seed is not available. Cuttings may be overwintered for use the following year. Container plants can be cut back and brought indoors for overwintering.
Height: 6"-9"
Spread: 1’-1.5'
Bloom: Seasonal Bloomer
Light: Full sun, Part Shade
Water: Low
Zone: 10, 11
Origin: Mexico
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
