Purple Heart
Tradescantia pallida
A striking trailing perennial characterized by its elongated, pointed leaves and succulent stems, all displaying a rich, deep purple or violet coloration.
- Light
- Full sun to bright indirect light, ideally 6 or more hours of bright light daily to enhance leaf coloration.
- Water
- Water deeply when the soil is dry to the touch. Highly tolerant of short periods of drought, but overwatering can cause stem rot. Reduce watering frequency during cooler winter months.
- Growth
- Trailing, herbaceous perennial with succulent stems, growing 12 to 18 inches tall with a spread or trailing length of 2 to 3 feet, exhibiting a rapid growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide bright, indirect to direct light to maintain vibrant leaf color. Water thoroughly when the top two inches of soil feel dry, and use a well-draining potting mix. Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength monthly during the active growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun to bright indirect light, ideally 6 or more hours of bright light daily to enhance leaf coloration.
Watering
Water deeply when the soil is dry to the touch. Highly tolerant of short periods of drought, but overwatering can cause stem rot. Reduce watering frequency during cooler winter months.
Soil
Well-draining, standard potting mix with a neutral to slightly acidic pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 9 through 11, grown as an indoor houseplant or annual in cooler climates.
Growth habit
Trailing, herbaceous perennial with succulent stems, growing 12 to 18 inches tall with a spread or trailing length of 2 to 3 feet, exhibiting a rapid growth rate.
Bloom season
Blooms from spring through summer, producing small, three-petaled pink or pale purple flowers nestled within leaf bracts.
Propagation
Easily propagated through stem cuttings. Snip a 4-to-6-inch stem segment just below a leaf node, remove lower leaves, and place the cutting directly in moist soil or water until roots develop.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to root rot if overwatered in poorly draining soil. Pests like aphids and mealybugs can occasionally appear, which can be managed with insecticidal soap or wiping the leaves.
Similar species
Tradescantia zebrina (Wandering Dude), which features striped silver and purple leaves rather than solid deep purple foliage.