Moses in the Basket Tradescantia pallida
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Setcreasea pallida
- Setcreasea purpurea
- Phonetic Spelling
- trad-es-KAN-tee-uh PAL-lid-duh
- Description
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Purple heart is a tender perennial cultivar in the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae) commonly used as a houseplant or an annual. The plant species is from Mexico, where it is grown as a ground cover. The genus name honors the gardeners who served Charles I of England, John Tradescant and his son with the same last name.
Although generally an annual, this plant may come back in protected areas or in mild winters. To plant outdoors find a location with full sun to partial shade and well-drained, high organic matter soil that stays evenly moist. Full sun will result in the best color development. Plants placed in a shady location will tend to have a more greenish tint. Pinch back to encourage bushiness. ‘Purple Heart’ grows up to 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The available space to plant can be less than 12 inches up to 3 feet. This plant tolerates salt, drought and dry soil and is resistant to deer. Propagate by stem cuttings.
The purple heart features trailing purple stems with violet-purple leaves and pink flowers that appear in the summer. Each flower lasts only one day. It is desired for its colorful and distinguishing purple foliage, stems and fast growth.
Grow it outdoors as a decorative ground cover or bedding plant that will survive longer than most bedding plants. Use it in a rock, drought-tolerant, cottage or children’s garden. It works well as a mass planting on slopes or in borders, containers or hanging baskets. It is also commonly grown indoors in a hanging basket or in interiorscapes as a ground cover.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaf front and back and stems are purple.
- Flowers are at the ends of stems and are usually pink.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and vine weevil are attracted, as well as scales and mealybugs. Outdoor plants can be munched on by caterpillars, slugs and snails. Protect from strong winds that can damage the stems. It has a tendency to become invasive in beds.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Sun and Shade Demonstration Garden, Buncombe County Colorful Borders West Side Foundation Planting in Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tradescantia
- Species:
- pallida
- Family:
- Commelinaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Buffer
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is somewhat resistant to damage by deer and is moderately salt and drought tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ground Cover
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are bright pink or pink with a white midline (rarely white), terminal, about 1 inch, with 3 equal petals and 3 sepals, subtended by a pair of ovate-acuminate bracts, 7 cm; peduncles 6-11 cm.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Slippery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, and oblong-elliptic to oblong-lanceolate. They are acute, blade sessile with a closed sheath, margins in rolled to give trough-shape, reddish-purple above and below.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The thick, fleshy, but fragile stems are ascending, decumbent or trailing, purple, rooting at nodes.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Salt