Product Description
Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart' Eighteen (18) plants
a/k/a p. and Purple Queen.
Sometimes mistakenly called Purple Wandering Jew which is actually its cousin, Tradescantia zebrine.
Zone 7 to 11, tender perennial in zone 7 and 8.
Full sun or filtered sun.
Mature foliage height 12 to 18 inches, herbaceous sprawling ground cover.
Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart', also known as Purple Queen or Wandering Jew, is a popular trailing plant prized for its vibrant purple foliage and easy-care nature. It is a versatile choice for adding a touch of color to gardens, hanging baskets, and indoor spaces.
Key Features:
- Foliage: The most striking feature is its deep purple, lance-shaped leaves. The vibrant color adds a dramatic touch to any setting.
- Flowers: It occasionally produces small, pink, three-petaled flowers, but the foliage is the main attraction.
- Growth Habit: It is a trailing plant with long stems that can grow up to 1.5 feet long. It spreads readily, making it an excellent groundcover or spiller in containers.
- Hardiness: It is hardy in USDA zones 7-11 but can be grown as an annual in colder climates or as a houseplant.
- Low Maintenance: It is a very low-maintenance plant that tolerates a wide range of conditions.
Growing Conditions:
- Sunlight: It prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate some shade. Too much direct sunlight can fade the purple color.
- Soil: It thrives in well-drained soil but tolerates various soil types.
- Moisture: It prefers moist soil but can tolerate some drought.
Uses in the Landscape:
- Groundcover: Its spreading habit makes it an excellent groundcover for filling in gaps and suppressing weeds.
- Hanging Baskets: Its trailing stems create a beautiful cascading effect in hanging baskets.
- Containers: It can be combined with other plants in containers to add color and texture.
- Indoor Plant: It is a popular houseplant that can brighten up any room.
Additional Tips:
- Pruning: It can be pruned to control its size and shape. Pinching back stems encourages bushier growth.
- Propagation: It is very easy to propagate from stem cuttings. Simply place cuttings in water or soil, and they will readily root.
- Toxicity: The sap can be irritating to the skin, so it is advisable to wear gloves when handling the plant.
- Invasive Potential: In some tropical climates, it can become invasive. It is important to monitor its growth and control its spread if necessary.
Overall, Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart' is a versatile and attractive plant that adds a vibrant touch to gardens and indoor spaces. Its easy-care nature and striking foliage make it a popular choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.
This clump-forming perennial is easy to divide in either the spring or in early fall. Seedlings may sprout around the parent plant, but they are easily lifted and moved. Tradscantia is very attractive when planted in a naturalized area or by a pond or stream.
Eighteen (18) plants in 3.5-inch containers per flat (or tray).
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!