This trailing plant with pretty purple foliage shines along borders and hanging baskets.
Key Takeaways
Purple heart (Tradescantia pallida) is a hardy plant with a stunning color payoff.
It’s a beautiful perennial with long, trailing stems that resemble rambling vines.
It is commonly planted as aground cover, along borders, or driveways.
Native to the Gulf Coast region of Mexico, purple heart grows up to 1.5 feet tall and wide.
Its purple leaves are long and oval-shaped.
Plant purple heart after the last spring frost.
The sap from the leaves and stems causes skin irritations in humans and dogs.
However, they are aggressive, rambling growers that take over an entire area if not controlled.
Plants growing in partial shade will appear more green than purple.
Houseplants should be given bright, indirect light.
Soil
Purple heart plants grow inrich, loose, airy, moist, and well-draining soil.
Good drainage is essential, so supplement the soil with perlite if necessary.
The plants are adaptable to a wide soil pH range from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
Weekly waterings should suffice for established plants.
During the blooming season or periods of extreme heat, give the plants more water.
Temperature And Humidity
Purple heart plants thrive in humid climates.
If growing it as a houseplant, use a humidifier to mimic tropical conditions.
Dry air causes foliage damage.
The plant is not particularly winter-hardy.
In temperatures below 40F, its top parts die back, but its roots survive light frosts.
Stop fertilization during the winter and resume in the spring.
The stems are notoriously fragile and break off very easily.
Wear gloves when pruning to avoid getting sap on your skin.
Seeds are rarely available.
Potting And Repotting Purple Heart Plants
Purple heart plants make good container plants.
Use a pot with large drainage holes and fill it with well-draining potting mix.
Repotting can be done any time during the growing season.
Use a humidifier to raise the humidity if needed.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
While deer usually ignore purple heart, some pests flock to it.
There are typically small holes in the foliage from the insects feeding.
This fungal disease also spreads through the soil.
Use sterilized pruning shears to remove infected areas or move plants to a new location with clean soil.
If the plant is not blooming, verify it gets full sun or almost full sun and regular moisture.
Deadheading is not required.
Wait until the top few inches of soil are dry and ensure the container has a large drainage hole.
Older plants might experience yellowing leaves as part or the natural ageing process.
Additionally, leaves turn brown when overexposed to sunlight.
Ingesting causes mouth and stomach irritations, and the sap causes skin irritation.
North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.Tradescantia pallida.
University of Georgia Today.UGA Research Shows Some Plants Can Remove Indoor Pollutants.
March 31, 2009.
