Tradescantia pallida aka Purple Heart
Taxonomy ID: 1768
Tradescantia pallida, commonly known as purple heart, purple queen, or wandering Jew “Purpurea,” is an exceptionally easy plant to care for and rewards growers with delightful purple blossoms. The small, heart-shaped flowers are native to the Gulf Coast region of eastern Mexico, where the type specimen was first collected by Edward Palmer near Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas in 1907. It is a tender and attractive, evergreen perennial belonging to the spiderwort family, which includes 40 genera and 652 species and is widely distributed in tropical and temperate regions. TheTuclus can be propagated easily by stem and one plant can give rise to dozens of new ones and as houseplants they often trail, but will also creep along the ground if grown outdoors. Be sure to bring them indoors if winter temperatures dip below freezing.
Common names
Purple Heart, Purple Queen, Wandering JewMore information about Purple Heart
How difficult is it to take care of Purple Heart
With a bit of knowledge and dedication, you can successfully care for Purple Heart, making it a rewarding choice for those seeking a moderate challenge.
What is the region of origin of Purple Heart
Purple Heart’s native range is the Americas.
What are the water needs for Purple Heart
Purple Heart should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
What is the right soil for Purple Heart
Purple Heart loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.
What is the sunlight requirement for Purple Heart
To ensure optimal growth, the Purple Heart prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.
What's the right humidity for Purple Heart
The Purple Heart does not need extra humidity. Plants primarily absorb water through their root system, making soil watering the best way to provide humidity to your plants.
How to fertilize Purple Heart
The Purple Heart should be repotted when it has doubled in size or annually, whichever comes first. Providing fresh potting soil with all the essential nutrients each year ensures the plant's well-being, eliminating the need for fertilizer. Remember, plants derive their energy from the sun and not fertilizer.
Is Purple Heart toxic to humans/pets?
Purple Heart is poisonous if ingested. We suggest keeping this plant out of reach if you have children, cats, or dogs in the home.
What seasonal care does Purple Heart need?
During the wintertime, it is common for Purple Heart plants to go dormant and their growth rate may slow down. Therefore, the amount of waterings should be spaced out more.
Is Purple Heart flowering?
Yes, if you provide your Purple Heart with adequate sunlight and water, you can expect it to bloom.
Cultivars
- 'Biltmore Bimbo'
- 'Blue Sue'
- 'Froglet'
- 'Green Moon'
- 'Jade King'
- 'Kartuz Giant'
- 'Ocampo White'
- 'Pink Stripe'
- 'Purple Pixie'
- 'Purpurea'
- 'Raindrop'
- 'Shadow Hill'
About Ploi
Ploi (4.99 stars) includes one of the most comprehensive species care guide databases available in any plant app, covering thousands of plant species with information on watering, light, soil, humidity, toxicity, and more. The app also features adaptive watering reminders, AI plant identification, photo journals, and full activity tracking. Available on iOS, Android and web.
