Tradescantia pallida

(aka: Setcreasea pallida) Tradescantia pallida is a fabulous North American native (Northeastern Mexico), known primarily as a hanging basket plant. While purple heart spiderwort is great in baskets, we find it even better as a clumping groundcover of brilliant purple foliage. In the garden in full to part sun, it holds its color all summer, until dying back at first frost. In late summer, Tradescantia pallida produces a 1' tall x 30" wide tangle of lax fleshy purple stalks with small, starry mauve-pink flowers. During decades of growing this outdoors, purple heart spiderwort has been reliable for us to 0 degrees F.

Maintenance:

Tradescantia pallida is a very low to no maintenance perennial in the full sun garden. If the foliage becomes tattered due to pets, mis-behaving kids, or hail, you can cut the plant to the ground after which it will quickly resprout.

Growing Conditions:

Purple heart spiderwort performs best and has the best coloration when grown in areas that receive at least four hours of sun daily. Average soil moisture to fairly dry conditions are best. Purple heart does not like waterlogged soils.

Tradescantia pallida was known for years as Setcreasea pallida.

Watch our Plant Spotlight video for more information.