Purple Heart
Tradescantia pallida
Also listed as Setcreasea purpurea, Setcreasea pallida
Also known as Purple Queen
Climate Match for your location
See how well Purple Heart grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A tropical perennial prized for its deep purple foliage that intensifies in full sun. Produces small pink or purple flowers but is grown primarily for its striking colored leaves.
Why grow it
Purple Heart offers reliable deep purple foliage in warm climates where many other colored-leaf perennials struggle, with intensity that increases under full sun exposure. Unlike purely ornamental alternatives, it produces modest flowers and tolerates a range of soil types, making it useful for color layering in mixed plantings. It grows faster than many purple-foliaged shrubs, reaching mature size within a season.
Watch out for
In cooler climates, treat as an annual or bring indoors over winter, as hardiness is limited to roughly USDA zones 10-11. The plant can become leggy or sparse if not pruned back periodically, particularly in lower light conditions. Growth slows noticeably when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, even if the plant survives.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Commelinaceae
Native Range
Mexico and Central America
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tropical perennial prized for its deep purple foliage that intensifies in full sun. Produces small pink or purple flowers but is grown primarily for its striking colored leaves.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Purple Heart grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Purple Heart offers reliable deep purple foliage in warm climates where many other colored-leaf perennials struggle, with intensity that increases under full sun exposure. Unlike purely ornamental alternatives, it produces modest flowers and tolerates a range of soil types, making it useful for color layering in mixed plantings. It grows faster than many purple-foliaged shrubs, reaching mature size within a season.
Watch out for
In cooler climates, treat as an annual or bring indoors over winter, as hardiness is limited to roughly USDA zones 10-11. The plant can become leggy or sparse if not pruned back periodically, particularly in lower light conditions. Growth slows noticeably when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, even if the plant survives.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Commelinaceae
Native Range
Mexico and Central America
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.