tradescantia pallida vs wandering jew

How to Grow and Care for Purple Heart

Jennifer Lesser is a New Jersey-based freelance writer covering lifestyle for The Spruce. She has over 16 years of experience writing for various outlets including Time Out NY and NJ Monthly.

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky

• Propagating
• Growing in Pots

Overwintering

• Pests & Diseases
• Common Problems

Purple heart (Tradescantia pallida) , also known as purple spiderwort, is a trailing vine with purple stems, silvery-purple foliage, and small flower clusters in summer, ranging from violet to pink. Native to the Gulf Coast of Mexico, this fast-growing species is often grown as an annual, as a houseplant, and as a perennial in zones where it's hardy.

Purple heart thrives in full sun and a variety of soil types. As a houseplant, it's often grown in hanging baskets in bright light so that it can trail. Like other species of the Tradescantia genus, purple heart can be mildly toxic to pets and people.

Purple Heart Care

To grow purple heart, place it in a sunny location (full sun outdoors or the sunniest spot you can find indoors) and plant it in well-draining soil. Water the plant thoroughly once the soil dries out. Fertilize it at the beginning of the growing season. As the plant gets leggy, pinch the ends to encourage fullness.

Purple heart is considered to be invasive in various parts of the world and in some corners of the United States, such as Florida.

Planting your purple hearts in full sun can help ensure that they grow the vibrant purple stems. The plant can also grow in partial shade, but its stem is more likely to appear green than purple. It's best to introduce these plants to brighter conditions over time, as too much direct sunlight all at once can lead to foliage burn.

Purple heart plants will grow best in soil that's lightweight, porous, and moist. Good drainage is a must. The plant tolerates a wide pH range from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.

Purple heart is considered to be drought-tolerant , and it will not require a great deal of watering. For best growth, however, it is best not to let the plant sit dry for long periods.

Temperature and Humidity

Purple heart can survive in an array of temperatures, but it's susceptible to frost. As a plant that grows naturally in tropical and subtropical locations, purple heart prefers high humidity. If your house has drier air, a humidifier can help, as can placing your plant in a bathroom or kitchen. Dry air will impact the leaves, rendering them limp.

The purple heart plant generally doesn't require fertilizer, although it can be used. Just be sure to dilute the solution to about half of its regular strength.

Types of Purple Heart

The purple T. pallida most often found at plant nurseries is the cultivar 'Purple Heart' or 'Purpurea.' While some less popular cultivars of T. pallida exist, you are more likely to find similar plants in the Tradescantia genus, including:

• T. zebrina , which is an extremely common and popular species often referred to as inch plant. It has striped leaves with silvery shades of green and purple.
• T. spathacea , also known as Moses-in-the-cradle, which grows in a more compact, rosette manner with similar shades of green and purple.
• T. fluminensis , which includes multiple popular houseplant cultivars, such as 'Nanouk,' 'Tricolor,' and 'Variegata.'

Prune purple heart as it begins to grow long stems to prevent it from becoming leggy. Do so during the warmer months after the bloom period is over. Be sure to use sharp scissors and wear gloves, as the sap in the stems can cause skin irritations and burns. Aim to take off the top half of the stems that have become overgrown.

Propagating Purple Heart

Purple heart can be easily propagated by stem cuttings .

• Cut a 3- to 6-inch-long piece from a healthy plant, with at least one node, using a sharp knife or pruners.
• Remove the leaves from the lower end of the cutting so that only a couple of leaves remain on the upper parts.
• Fill a 4-inch pot with moist potting soil.
• Using a pencil or a stick, poke a hole in the soil and insert the cutting in it so that the node is buried in the soil.
• Place it in a bright location but out of direct sunlight.
• Water it regularly to keep the soil evenly moist at all times.
• Transplant it into a larger pot or outdoors in garden soil after it has rooted.

Potting and Repotting Purple Heart

Purple heart grows well in pots, but in ideal conditions, it grows quickly. You will know it's time to repot the plant when you see roots sticking out of the drainage hole or emerging from the soil level.

Opt for a new container that is about two or three inches wider than its current pot. Fill it with fresh potting mix before transferring the plant. Firm the soil around your purple heart and water well to settle it into its new home.

If you are located in USDA hardiness zones 7-11, purple heart will survive the winter outdoors without issues. However, if you're in a cooler zone, purple heart will not make it through the colder months. You can either grow it as an annual, allowing it to die and replacing it next spring, or you can bring it indoors.

To do so, bring your purple heart indoors before the first frost. Place it in the sunniest spot in your home, since it prefers full sunlight. Consider using a grow light if needed. Water once the soil completely dries out, and prune the vines if they get leggy. Purple heart can be placed outside again once your local last frost date has passed.

Common Pests & Diseases

This is a tough plant that attracts caterpillars and snails when grown outdoors. However, it may also attract aphids, vine weevils, mealybugs, and scales.

Place a layer of gravel, wood chips, or diatomaceous earth as a protective barrier around the plants to keep the little critters away. Fortunately, purple heart is deer-resistant.

How to Get Purple Heart to Bloom

In healthy growing conditions, purple heart should bloom readily, whether it's outside in the garden or indoors on a shelf.

Bloom Months

Purple heart blooms in summer reliably when grown outside, though it can start as early as spring and last into the fall, depending on where you live. Indoors, the plant can get a bit confused and flower at odd times, but it will usually bloom around summer as well.

What Do Purple Heart Blooms Look and Smell Like?

The small, dark pink blooms of purple heart plants have three petals and pop up inside the dark, lance-shaped purple leaves. They don't offer much fragrance.

How to Encourage More Blooms

To get the most blooms out of your purple heart, make sure it is getting enough light. Ideally, these plants should get six hours of direct sunlight or more. Indoors you may need a grow light to achieve such conditions.

Caring for Purple Heart After It Blooms

Purple heart doesn't require any sort of different care after it blooms. Treat it the same way that you have been. However, if your plant is getting leggy, this may be a good time to trim it, promoting bushy growth.

Deadheading Purple Heart

Deadheading purple heart blooms as they begin to fade will encourage the plant to produce even more flowers.

Common Problems with Purple Heart

Yellow leaves.

Yellowing leaves on a purple heart plant often indicates overwatering. Wait until the soil is dry before watering again. You can use a moisture meter to confirm the timing. If you are certain that this isn't the cause, the plant may have a nutrient deficiency.

Browning Leaves

Browning leaves have multiple potential causes including too much sun, lack of water, and old age. The oldest leaves on the plant will naturally die over time, which is no cause for alarm.

Green Leaves

If a purple heart plant does not get enough sunlight, its purple leaves may revert to green. Move the plant to a location with more light or add a grow light.

Purple heart is hardy in zones 7-11, so it will return each year in those areas. In cooler zones, purple heart must be brought inside during the winter or grown as a houseplant.

This versatile plant looks lovely trailing out of hanging baskets and is also an effective, colorful groundcover plant. You can also use it as a filler or spiller in arrangements.

For more compact growth, pinch the tips of new stems. This will encourage the plant to produce new stems closer to the base, leading to bushiness.

Tradescantia . North Carolina State Extension.

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants; Inch Plant . ASPCA.

Tradescantia pallida . University of South Florida.

Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart' or 'Purpurea'. North Carolina State Extension.

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Wandering Jew Plant (Tradescantia or Spiderwort): Care, Types, Images and More

The wandering Jew plant is a common name for different species of plants that belong to the Tradescantia genus. There are around 75 different types of plants in Tradescantia genus and some are called inch plants, spiderwort, striped wandering Jew, Boat Lily, Purple Queen, or flowering inch plant. Wandering Jew plants are great house plants because they are relatively easy to care for. They are also easy to grow because the wandering Jew plant propagates easily from cuttings.

Some types of wandering Jew plants have green and gold leaves, some have reddish leaves, and others have green fuzzy leaves. There are also types of wandering Jew plants that flower. Depending on the species, the wandering Jew plant could have purple, white, or pink flowers.

How to care for wandering Jew plant : For the Tradescantia or spiderwort plant to thrive, grow in a plenty of indirect light and plant in fertile, moist potting soil with good drainage. Make sure the soil isn’t too dry or too damp and keep medium humidity levels. The ideal temperature range is between 65°F (18°C) and 75°F (23°C). You can fertilize every four weeks during the growing season with a diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer.

In this article, you will find all you need to know about this delightful houseplant. You will also get tips and ideas on how to care for your wandering Jew plants.

Wandering Jew Plant (Tradescantia or Spiderwort) – Overview of the Plant and Its Flowers

The botanical name for wandering Jew plant is Tradescantia zebrina and is also called the inch plant. However, the name wandering Jew is given to many herbaceous perennial plants in the Tradescantia genus. ( 1 )

Species of Tradescantias naturally grow outdoors in countries in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and Australia. Varieties of wandering Jew plants also thrive well indoors, where, like their garden varieties, they grow well when it is warm, sunny, and moderately humid.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, various varieties of Tradescantias are regarded as invasive plants in the wild. However, it is the fast-growing nature of spiderworts, wandering Jews, and inch plants that makes them perfect houseplants. ( 2 )

Many people like to grow wandering Jews or spiderworts in hanging baskets or grow them in pots to decorate a garden.

What does a wandering Jew look like?

Plants from the Tradescantia varieties have leaves that seem to grow in all directions (hence the term “wandering Jew”).

One of the distinct features about foliage on wandering Jews is that many of them have striped leaves. Sometimes, the leaves can be purple and silver stripes, whereas other types of Tradescantias have leaves that are almost all silver. ( 3 )

You may also notice that some varieties of wandering Jew plant have different colors on the underneath of the leaf. For example, the Tradescantia zebrina has green/silver leaves on the upper side and deep red or burgundy colors on the underside.

Wandering Jew flower

Wandering Jew houseplants also produce attractive flowers. These flowers can sometimes be white or can range in color from pink to various shades of lilac and purple. ( 3 )

However, plant lovers don’t usually grow wandering Jews indoors or outdoors for their blooms. It’s the beautiful variation of leaf colors that makes various types of Tradescantias so desirable houseplants.

Types of Wandering Jew (Spiderwort) Plants

The most popular types of Tradescantia plants to keep indoors are Tradescantia fluminensis ( spiderwort ), Tradescantia pallida ( purple heart ), and Tradescantia zebrina ( wandering Jew ).

Wandering Jew or inch plant ( Tradescantia zebrina )

This type of  wandering Jew houseplant has purple and green leaves with a stripe pattern that resembles zebra’s stripes. There are types of wandering Jews that have bluish green leaves and purple hues on the underside.

Tradescantia fluminensis (spiderwort)

There are a number of types of Tradescantia that are called spiderwort. This is distinguished from some Tradescantias as it has ovel shiny dark green leaves with pointed tips which are slightly fleshy .

Picture of wandering Jew plant with white flowers

Tradescantia pallida (purple heart)

This type of spiderwort plant is also commonly referred to as wandering Jew. The T. pallida houseplants have vibrant purple leaves and light pink flowers when they bloom.

Wandering jew plant with deep purple leaves and light purplish-pink flowers

Tradescantia callisia

The leaves of T. callisia varieties are sometimes referred to as creeping inch plants. They have remarkably stripy leaves made up of green and white stripes.

Picture of green wandering jew

Wandering Jew Plant Care (How to Grow Spiderwort or Tradescantia)

Caring for wandering Jew plants is fairly simple and straightforward. All plants in the Tradescantia genus enjoy moist soil, sunny but indirect sunlight, and warm conditions.

So, it doesn’t matter if you have fuzzy leaf Tradescantias, purple queen varieties, spiderworts, or wandering Jews, they all require the same type of care.

Light requirements for Tradescantias

To make sure that wandering Jew plants grow successfully, they require a good amount of light. This ensures that they grow with healthy leaves that have a vibrant green, silver, purple, or lilac colors.

The best place to place wandering Jew plant or spiderworts is in an east- or west-facing location. This means that they get plenty of natural light without being in direct sunlight when the sun is at its strongest.

The only exception is if you have Tradescantia pallida plants with dark purples leaves. They usually thrive in direct sunlight, although you should regularly check them in the summertime to make sure the sun isn’t too strong.

One sign that your Tradescantia isn’t getting enough light is if the color of their leaves starts to fade.

Best growing temperature for Spiderwort or Tradescantia

One of the reasons why wandering Jew plants are good for the home is that they thrive in room temperature.

The best temperatures for growing any type of Tradescantia plant is between 65°F (18°C) and 75°F (23°C). The houseplants also thrive in conditions that are described as “average humidity.”

If you grow Tradescantias outdoors, you should be aware of a drop in night temperatures and lower temperatures during winter. You should bring Tradescantias indoors if the temperature drops.

Best watering techniques for wandering Jew plant care

To care for your inch plant, spiderwort, or wandering Jew, you should keep the soil moist.

The best way to water a wandering Jew is to water the soil thoroughly and let the water drain out the bottom. Another way to water your purple house plant is to put water in the plant pot tray and allow the plant to soak up as much as it needs.

Some beginners who start caring for houseplants such as Tradescantias for the first time buy a soil moisture gauge to help get the soil moisture levels just right.

When it comes to proper watering for your wandering Jew, always make sure the soil isn’t too dry or too damp. Usually, weekly watering in the summertime is enough to keep your Tradescantia growing well.

The best fertilizer for wandering Jew houseplants

The reason why Tradescantias are so easy to care for is that they don’t usually require any feeding.

If you decide to encourage your inch plant or spiderwort to grow faster, then choose a liquid organic fertilizer mixed at half strength and use once a month.

Most houseplant growers don’t feed their wandering Jew plants in the fall or winter as they tend to become “leggy” or “straggly.”

Which type of soil to use for Tradescantias

To properly care for wandering Jew varieties of houseplants, you only need to plant them in regular potting soil.

How to prune wandering Jew plants

In time, Tradescantia plants require some cutting back and pruning. This helps to give your houseplant a bushier appearance and also gives you plenty of cuttings to propagate.

For Tradescantia pruning, you just need to pinch off the stem tips to leave about ¾ of the length. This will encourage your plant to grow better and become more attractive.

Growing Plants from Wandering Jew Cuttings

Even for the most novice of houseplant owners, propagating any type of Tradescantia plant is very easy. After you have cut back your “leggy” wandering Jew stems, you will have a large number of cuttings that you can use to grow new house plants.

How to propagate wandering Jew plant leaves

To prepare your wandering Jew cuttings or purple heart plant cuttings for propagation, you need a couple of stems about 1-2 inches long. Remove all the leaves apart from 2 or 3 at the end of the stem.

There are 2 ways you can grow wandering Jew plants from cutting:

• The first way is to just put a cutting in potting soil and wait for it to grow. All you have to do is make sure that the soil is kept moist and not overly damp.
• The other way to grow a Tradescantia from a cutting is to put the stem in water. You should notice that new roots start to grow within a week. When you notice new roots growing, you can transfer your cuttings to a pot to grow a new houseplant.

Wandering Jew Outdoor Plant Care

Tradescantia plants are great garden plants and grow well outdoors in warmer zones in the U.S. (USDA growing zones 9-11). In fact, it is because they grow so well outside in warmer countries and are quite invasive that they are classed as a weed in certain countries.

You can easily care for any Tradescantia plants to add color and beauty to your garden. Purple hanging plants or wandering Jew vines with stripy leaves can grace any patio, doorway, or garden area.

As with caring for wandering Jews or spiderworts indoors, Tradescantia plants growing outdoor should be protected from direct sunlight. So, place your plants in shady areas of the garden. But it’s good to remember that some bright light will help the wandering Jew plant produce more flowers.

Temperature

Also, frost can damage the plant, so, if you live in areas where fall and winter temperatures drop below 10°F (12°C), you should take them indoor and continue to grow them as houseplants.

Problems with Wandering Jew Plant (Spiderwort)

Even though it is relatively easy to care for wandering Jew plants, you can still come across certain problems.

Let’s look at some growing tips for Tradescantia plants to avoid or remedy some common problems.

The most common pest when growing wandering Jews indoors are bugs such as spider mites or aphids . The appearance of these pests on your bushy spiderwort or inch plant may be a sign that conditions are too dry.

To help remedy the problems of pests on your Tradescantia, mist the leaves regularly and make sure the soil is moist enough. You may need to wash off the mites with water to help get rid of the infestation.

One of the beauties about caring for wandering Jew plants indoors or outdoors is that they are not susceptible to disease. Usually, any discoloration of the leaves or poor growth is connected to the soil being too dry or too damp.

Fungal infections

Overwatering spiderworts, inch plants, or wandering Jews can cause a fungal growth called botrytis to develop in the roots.

Brown leaves

As with most problems associated with caring for Tradescantias, brown leaves can also indicate that the growing environment isn’t right. The leaves of your wandering Jew could have turned brown because of too much or too little sunlight. Also, too much watering can affect leaf health.

Where to Buy Wandering Jew Plants

Many garden centers and online stores stock many different varieties of wandering Jews. You will also find that Tradescantia cuttings are available online.

Because many different types of wandering Jews are so easy to grow yourself, you could ask a friend for a cutting if they have the plant. You can also get more Tradescantia houseplant or garden plants by propagating cuttings from plants you already have.

FAQ Related to Wandering Jew Plant (Tradescantia)

Do they need any pruning.

To properly care for wandering Jews, the leaves and stems require pruning. The stems can grow quite long and start losing their leaves from the base. The best time to prune any Tradescantia plant is just before the growing season in late winter or early spring.

You may also find that Tradescantias grow better if you give them a mild prune in late summer.

How to prevent wandering Jew roots from rotting?

Go easy on the watering to stop Tradescantia plants’ roots from rotting. Water them enough to keep the soil moist during summertime and only occasionally in the winter.

Are wandering Jew plant leaves toxic to animals?

While not toxic to cats or dogs, the leaves of wandering Jew plants can cause irritation. If you have pets that like to nibble on leaves, you can still benefit from the beauty of Tradescantias if you grow the outdoor plant in hanging baskets.

Can I grow my Tradescantia plant outdoors?

Yes, you certainly can. Wandering Jew plants grow well out of doors in warm climates. During the summertime, you can move your indoor houseplants to the garden and place them away from direct sunlight.

Dashes of purple colors, bright pinks, or interesting green and purple stripped leaves can make an interesting feature in any garden or balcony.

Can you train a wandering Jew plant?

Tradescantia plants are easy to train because their stems can grow very long and you can wrap them around objects. Wandering Jew plant stems can grow up on trellises or obelisks or up around any other item.

Heavily pruning wandering Jews in late winter can also help to train the plant to grow into a colorful bush.

How fast does wandering Jew plant grow?

Tradescantia cuttings should start growing roots within a week or so. Once the plant is established, you can expect it to grow about an inch every week. Some people claim this is the reason that some Tradescantias are called inch plants.

Can Tradescantia houseplants cause allergies?

The sap of wandering Jew plants or prolonged skin exposure to its leaves could cause allergic reactions.

The journal Allergy reports that indoor plants such as Tradescantia can also cause symptoms such as itching of the throat, swelling, wheezing, and runny eyes and nose. ( 4 )

Do wandering Jew varieties have any health benefits?

Although not widely used, extracts from Tradescantia zebrina have certain medicinal properties. You can buy inch plant herbal liquid extracts that are said to have many antioxidant properties.

Researchers have found that therapeutic compounds in Tradescantia extracts have antibacterial, anticancer, and antioxidant uses. ( 5 )

Related articles:

• Moses In Cradle Care: How to Grow Tradescantia spathacea
• Chinese Money Plant Care: How to Grow Pilea Peperomioides
• Dracaena Marginata Plant Care: How to Grow Madagascar Dragon Tree

Wandering Jew Plants Guide: How to Grow & Care for “Tradescantia zebrina”

It might surprise you to learn that “the wandering Jew” isn’t a single plant, its name used to describe a collection of plants in the Tradescantia genus.

Many countries around the world view the wandering Jew as an invasive species. Therefore, you won’t find many of them as regular additions to gardens . However, the vine makes for an excellent indoor plant .

Table of Contents

Quick Facts

Wandering jew plant varieties.

The wandering Jew refers to three different plants in the Tradescantia genus. The three varieties are the zebrina, fluminensis, and the pallida.

Tradescantia Zebrina

The zebrina is the most common of the three species, and it features dark-green foliage that contrasts against the brilliant-white three-petal flowers the plant produces.

As you can imagine, the plant also gets part of its name from the zebra-like foliage. The center of the leaf id has a creamy-white color, and the outer trimming of the leaves has a silver lining.

Tradescantia Fluminensis

This wandering Jew species features white flowers, and it’s a trendy indoor plant around the world. The species originates from the southeastern region of Brazil. It’s an evergreen perennial plant that flowers all-year-round and lasts for many years if the owner takes care of it correctly.

The oval-shaped foliage of the Fluminensis is green in color and has a glossy look. The leaves attach to fleshy stems, and the stem nodes quickly put roots down into the soil, allowing for the rapid spread and growth of the plant in ideal growing conditions.

When the plant flowers , it produces a set of flowers with three white petals. The flowers don’t bear any seeds, and they might also emerge in clusters. There are various sub-species of this plant as well, and some types, such as variegate, feature different leaf colors, such as yellow or cream streaks in the leaves.

The plant does best in USDA zones 9 to 12, as it loves the additional humidity in these regions as well. The wandering Jew doesn’t do well in colder climates, so stick to planting in the southern states.

The wandering Jew also prefers full sunlight during the day, and you’ll need to feed it a reasonable amount of water throughout the week. The plant doesn’t enjoy being dry for long periods.

Tradescantia Pallida

This variety originates in Mexico, and it’s the most attractive of the three Tradescantia genus. This wandering Jew produces long, pointy leaves that can reach lengths of 7-inches. The leaf will eventually turn a purple color, but the tips might remain red or green during the color transition.

There are visible segmentations on the stem of this wandering Jew, and it’s for this reason that many countries classify this plant as invasive.

The segments break easily, but they root readily, evolving into two plants with little care. Fortunately, for fans of the plant, it also makes it easy to grow the plants for cuttings as well.

Tradescantia pallida don’t like the cold, and it will die back in colder environments in the Northern states, especially if it grows outside. This wandering Jew produces small flowers that bloom in colors of pink, lavender, and white. The flowers feature three petals, and while they aren’t show-stopping, then do add a beautiful aesthetic to the plant.

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Natural Air Cleaners

One of the reasons why the wandering Jew is such a popular house plant is its natural air-cleaning properties. The wandering Jew is an excellent “air scrubber,” and it removes bacteria and VOCs from the air inside your home, exchanging it for fresh air that enhances your home.

Some research also shows that the wandering Jew can assist in soil remediation, as well. The plant can remove heavy metals from the soil, helping restore the root health of other plants in the same flowerbed or pot.

Caring for Your Wandering Jew Plant

All varieties of the wandering Jew are easy to care for, provided that you grow them in the right climate and conditions. As long as the plant receives regular watering and pruning, it will thrive, and you’ll also manage to control the growth as well.

If you plant in a sunny spot in your home, then you can expect your tradescantia to last for many seasons. It’s also important to note that the plant might not flower it in its first season. However, by the third year, you should see plenty of flowers that emerge in the summer months.

As mentioned, the wandering Jew prefers sunny planting locations. The plant prefers later afternoon sun to morning sun, but it does well in any sunny area around the home. The more light you give the plant, the more flowers it produces in the flowering season.

If your wandering Jew does not get sufficient sunlight, you’ll notice that the color of the leaves starts to fade. Move the plant to a sunny spot, and it should recover in less than a week.

The wandering Jew enjoys a balanced moisture level in its soil . Don’t let the earth get too dry, as it might cause burning in the tips of the leaves. Likewise, the wandering Jew does not enjoy excessively wet soil either. The plant is susceptible to forming root rot if you “keep its feet wet.”

To check if it’s time to water your wandering Jew, push your finger about 1-inch into the soil. If it feels dry, then give your plant some water.

You must ensure you use a rich, loamy soil that drains well when planting your wandering Jew. When planting in a pot, make sure you add a layer of gravel at the bottom of the pot to enhance drainage. Add perlite to the soil to assist with drainage as well.

You can get away with using a standard potting mix when planting indoors , and other soil enhancements we recommend you add are the following.

• Coarse sand and perlite for drainage
• Humus or peat
• A light dusting of lime
• A few handfuls of rich organic compost

You want the soil to retain water but still allow optimal drainage.

During the growing season, fertilize your wandering Jew plant using a liquid-based fertilizer product. Make sure that you dilute the fertilizer to 50-percent strength.

Strong concentrations can result in burning in the tips of the leaves of the plant. You can also add a granular slow-release fertilizer to the soil once a year at the start of spring.

The wandering Jew grows quickly, and it might take over its pot in one or two seasons, depending on the size of the container. Therefore, you’ll need to pull up the plant and divide it from year-to-year, depending on its growth rate.

If you choose to re-pot your plant, make sure you use a pot that’s at least 50-percent larger than the old one. Line the pot with potting soil and a few handfuls of rich organic compost. Dig around the edges of the existing container to loosen the root ball. After loosening, pull the base of the plant to release it from the pot.

Move the plant to its new pot, and then fill with potting mix to cover the roots — Pat down the soil, and then water lightly.

Wandering Jew plants require regular pruning . The plant grows quickly, and if you don’t prune, then it can overtake the pot fast. Pruning also helps the stem, from getting “leggy,” meaning that the plant starts to look bare at the base. Pruning keeps the plant healthy and growing at an optimal rate.

All; you need to do is prune back any stems and pinch the stem tips. The wandering Jew will then send out two new shoots from the pinched top, helping your plant spread out into a bush-like appearance.

Propagation

The wandering Jew is easy to propagate . This plant grows quickly in a variety of conditions, which is one of the reasons why most countries list it as invasive. You can propagate your cuttings after your pruning session, without much effort.

Remove all of the leaves but the top set after pruning the stem. Place the cutting in another smaller pot with moist potting soil . Leave the container in the sun, and you should find that the cutting roots in a month.

Being an indoor plant , the wandering Jew does not get much attention from pests. However, spider mites can be a problem for your plant if you don’t take care of it and watch for the presence of pests.

Spider mites are tiny spider-like bugs that form a web around the inside of the leaves of the plant. If left unmanaged and untreated, they might start to cause yellow spots in the foliage. The wandering Jew might also fail to flower in the summer months as well.

Over-watering your wandering Jew plant can result in the onset of diseases like root rot. Ensure that you have a well-draining soil mix before planting your wandering Jew. Provided that you do everything you can to ensure your soil drains well, you should never have a problem with root rot in your wandering Jew plant.

Wandering Jew Plants FAQS

What is the best way to grow a wandering jew plant.

The best way to grow a Wandering Jew plant involves placing it in a location that gets plenty of sunlight, preferably late afternoon sun. You should use well-draining, loamy soil to plant it, and ensure a balanced moisture level by watering it regularly but not excessively. The plant also appreciates humidity and occasional fertilizing with a liquid-based fertilizer diluted to 50% strength during the growing season. Pruning should be done regularly to manage its growth.

Is Wandering Jew easy to grow?

A: Yes, Wandering Jew plants are generally easy to grow. They adapt well to various conditions and are fast-growing. They can be propagated easily from cuttings and require minimal maintenance beyond regular watering, pruning, and an occasional application of fertilizer. However, they do not tolerate cold climates very well.

Does wandering Jew like full sun or shade?

Wandering Jew plants prefer locations with full sunlight. They can tolerate some shade but too much shade can cause the color of the leaves to fade. More sunlight exposure generally leads to more flowers during the flowering season.

How often do you water Wandering Jew?

Wandering Jew plants should be watered regularly to maintain a balanced moisture level in the soil. However, the soil should not be allowed to become too dry or too wet. Overwatering can lead to root rot. A good way to check if it’s time to water is to push your finger about 1-inch into the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water the plant.

Is Tradescantia Zebrina easy to grow?

Yes, Tradescantia Zebrina, a variety of Wandering Jew, is easy to grow. It requires similar care to other Wandering Jew varieties and is known for its adaptability and quick growth.

Does Tradescantia Zebrina need full sun?

Tradescantia Zebrina does best in a location with full sunlight. While it can tolerate some shade, insufficient sunlight can cause the leaves to lose their vibrant color. Like other Wandering Jew plants, the more light it gets, the more flowers it produces during its flowering season.

Hollie is a life-long gardener, having started helping her Dad work on their yard when she was just 5. Since then she has gone on to develop a passion for growing vegetables & fruit in her garden. She has an affinity with nature and loves to share her knowledge gained over a lifetime with readers online. Hollie has written for a number of publications and is now the resident garden blogger here at GardenBeast. Contact her at [email protected] or follow on twitter https://twitter.com/greenholliec

Pampas Grass Guide: How to Plant & Care for “Cortaderia Selloana”

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma guide: how to grow & care for “mini monstera”, corn plant guide: how to grow & care for “dracaena fragrans”.

under the photo “easy to propagate”, that is not a wandering jew-its a peperomia “rosso!”

My wandering jew plants leafs are getting dried. Why is that?

It’s not getting enough humidity

Could you elaborate on “rich organic compost”? What should it be made of, exactly? Can I use compost accelerator in the soil mix?

Worm castings are great, or worm tea, egg shell tea is another.

What month does the jew break ground to start growing?

All depends on your specific areas weather pattern and seasons.

Do NOT BUY ANY OF THIS SPECIES if you have a dog because dogs are very allergic to these plants & come out in bad rashes if they wander through them!

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Home » House Plants » Wandering Jew

Tradescantia Care: Growing The Wandering Jew Plant

The Tradescantia plant is commonly known as the Wandering Jew plant – an attractive vining plant whose distinctive leaves bear stripes of purple, white, green, and silver.

The botanical name for the tricolor wandering jew? Tradescantia zebrina !

The wandering jew from the genus Tradescantia is a native of Mexico who earned its common name thanks to the plant’s ability to root easily, spread, and thrive in a wide variety of conditions.

This plant comes from the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae) and is also known as Zebrina pendula or inch plant .

Another popular wandering jew variety is Tradescantia pallida – with deep purple leaves and goes by several common names like purple wandering jew, purple queen, and purple heart.

There are several other wandering jew varieties with green and white variegated leaves.

Tradescantia displays small 3-petaled pink, white, or purple flowers.

Wandering Jew Quick Care Tips

• Botanical Name: Tradescantia zebrina
• Common Name(s): Wandering Jew, Inch Plant, Spiderwort
• Synonyms: Zebrina pendula, Zebrina purpusii
• Family & Origin: Commelinaceae family, native to Mexico and Central America
• Growability: Easy to grow
• Grow Zone: 9-11
• Size: Grows up to 2-3 feet long
• Flowering: Produces small, purple flowers in the summer
• Light: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate low light
• Humidity: Tolerates low humidity but prefers higher humidity levels
• Temperature: Thrives in temperatures between 55-75°F
• Soil: Well-draining soil
• Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry, do not overwater
• Fertilizer: Fertilize once a month during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer
• Pests & Diseases: Susceptible to spider mites and mealybugs; watch for root rot if overwatered
• Propagation: Propagated through stem cuttings
• Plant Uses: Used as a trailing plant in hanging baskets or as a ground cover in gardens. Can also be used as an indoor plant.

In the “old days” before the advent of garden centers and nurseries carrying a wide variety of houseplants, housewives and gardeners shared cuttings of plants freely.

Cuttings of the wandering jew traveled broadly from home to home and proved itself adaptable and capable of thriving in almost any setting.

This reminded people of the wanderings of the Jews of biblical times, hence the nickname.

This easy-care plant grows indoors or out in a variety of settings.

In this article, we will provide best practice instructions on how to grow and care for Tradescantia and provide some words of caution regarding another invasive species related to it, Tradescantia fluminensis . Read on to learn more.

Wandering Jew Plant Care Tips

Wandering Jew vines do well in pots planted in a 60/40 peat moss and perlite potting mixture or with an all-purpose potting mixture .

This indoor plant makes an exceptionally beautiful hanging basket plant .

Lighting can vary from medium indirect light to even direct sun. Likewise, this hardy plant does well in room temperatures ranging from 55° – 75° degrees Fahrenheit.

NOTE: Tradescantia  Plants will achieve the most vibrant, bright colors in high, bright, indirect sunlight and at consistently warmer temperatures.

Like most houseplants, the Wandering Jew does not like soggy roots. Translation – Too much water leads to root rot.

Allow the soil to dry completely between waterings, then water deeply. If desired, use a half-strength general liquid houseplant fertilizer two times monthly.

Do not water directly into the crown of the plant. Doing so may encourage rotting of the stems and the roots .

These plants like a humid environment, so add a humidifier or, between watering, mist the leaf surface frequently.

Continue misting through the winter, but cut back on watering. Generally speaking, watering once a week should work.

During the winter, reduce watering to two times monthly, and do not fertilize.

Pruning and grooming play an important role in caring for your Wandering Jew indoors.

These houseplants are vigorous growers and send out long tendrils and stems on a regular, ongoing basis. Keep these trimmed or pinched back at leaf nodes to encourage your new bushier growth and fuller plants.

Propagation of this rambling plant is very easy.

Simply clip off the long stem cuttings (3” length) during the spring and summer months and root them in moist potting soil or in water.

Growing Wandering Jew As An Outdoor Plant

Wandering Jew thrives in a temperate climate with fairly high humidity. Hardy in USDA Zones 9-11.

Tradescantia tricolor makes a good ground cover in spots receiving bright indirect light, such as around the base of tall trees, which are shady areas.

They also serve as a great ornamental and basket plant.

Planting is simplicity itself. You can use four-inch plants in pots purchased from a nursery or use cuttings of stem tips from your houseplant for repotting or creating new starts.

You’ll get the best results planting in rich, well-drained soil.

Be sure to cover the roots or sink your cuttings 3″ to 5″ inches into the soil. Keep a moist soil until the plant becomes established.

After this, weekly regular watering should suffice. Applying liquid fertilizer once a week or apply a slow release fertilizer to help to develop a healthy root system.

Keep plants pinched back and pruned to encourage them to grow bushy rather than in a spindly and trailing manner.

NOTE: Some people report skin irritation when coming in contact with the sap when handling cuttings.

Wandering Purple Jew plants will die back outdoors during the cold winter months. Fear not, if you plant correctly and help establish a good root system they will reappear come springtime.

Three Best Ways To Root Tradescantia

• Poke the ends of cuttings into fresh potting soil and keep the soilless mix moist for a few weeks. During the rooting process (rooting hormone is not needed), keep plants in partial shade. Once rooted, transfer them to pots and water as you would a mature plant.
• Simply lay cuttings on the surface of the moist potting mix. Press the cutting joint into the soil mix to make good contact. Roots will form at the joint. Once the plant becomes established, transfer it to its own pot with drainage holes.
• Place cuttings in a glass or bottle of water set on a sunny windowsill. Once roots emerge, transfer cuttings into pots. Keep the soil moist for a few weeks until the cuttings adjust and establish themselves in the soil.

Replacing The Wandering Jew Sometimes Becomes Necessary

This houseplant does not usually live for long periods of time like a Hoya the wax plant or grandma’s African violet plant. Luckily, it regenerates itself easily.

If your Wandering Jew begins looking shabby, loses foliage easily, and gets too leggy, you may want to simply toss it into the compost pile and replace it with one of its offspring.

Alternatively, you could try cutting the foliage back to the roots to see if it will regenerate.

Pests and diseases rarely attack Wandering Jew, but occasionally, you’ll discover spider mites and aphids on the leaves and stems.

When this happens, simply cut back the affected areas and dispose of the cuttings in a sealed plastic bag.

Spray plants vigorously with water to knock off any errant pests. Depending on the infestation, this should take care of the problem.

If it does not, turn to natural insecticides for killing any remaining aphids and prevent reinfestation.

NOTE: Don’t compost diseased or pest-infested plants.

Beware Of The Wandering Jew’s Invasive Cousin!

So far, we’ve discussed the wandering jew – Tradescantia pallid. Another variety, known as Tradescantia fluminensis, is solid green and produces white blooms.

This wandering Jew variety thrives in USDA zones 9 through 11. In fact, it does so well that it can quickly become invasive. You must take great care to prevent it from taking over your entire yard.

In subtropical areas such as New Zealand and Australia and in the southern United States, it has become a serious invasive plant problem.

Wandering Jew Propagation

It propagates itself with wild abandon, and new starts grow readily from stem segments.

Inclement weather only encourages this because the segments can float and travel far and wide to establish themselves in new homes.

Eradicating Tradescantia fluminensis or even cutting it back by hand may encourage the plant to spread.

Very often, people regret introducing this “Wandering Jew” in their gardens. They often end up having to use a strong herbicide to kill it off.

Should The Green Wandering Jew Be Avoided Entirely?

Tradescantia fluminensis can be a good garden addition, and it does well as a groundcover in Brazil and Argentina, from whence it hails.

If you want Tradescantia fluminensis in your garden, look for the Innocence variety.

It’s more attractive and less invasive than the common varieties. It prefers damper and shadier areas and thrives in lower shade with moist soil.

More on Tradescantia:

• Wandering Jew Plant being Poisonous or Toxic
• Check out this patented 2017 variety – Tradescantia Nanouk ®
• Growing and Care Of Tradescantia Tricolor
• Tradescantia Spathacea Care (Oyster Plant)
• Caring For Callisia Repens The Bolivian Wandering Jew

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Tradescantia – A Common Little-Known Wild Food

Various vining plants of the Tradescantia genus are very common throughout the Southern California area. Sometimes they are called spiderworts, sometimes wandering Jew. They are great survival plants. They can be green or purple, and are sometimes used as ornamentals. However, more often they are simply the plants that take over an area when nothing else is grown.

The purple ones are Tradescantia pallida , which are usually house plants or hanging plants. The ones with purplish leaves with stripes are T. zebrina , also typically an ornamenal. Both of these are occasionally sold at nurseries.

The variety that is widespread, growing in the mountains and backyards, and seeming to need no care, is T. fluminensis , a common vining groundcover with green leaves. There are a few horticultural varieties that you might encounter.

Though the leaves are usually solid green with a smooth margin, some have white stripes in the leaves, and some have wavy margins. And while the flowers are typically blue, some have white flowers.

So is this an edible plant?

I long wondered about this, and yet there were no references to this plant being used for food. In the mid-1980s, a Phillipino friend told me that he commonly ate the leaves back home, usually in a soup or broth in which chicken and beetles were added. I tried cooking without the chicken or beetles, and found that it made a spinach-like dish, though somewhat bland, and certainly improved with butter.

I also began trying it in salads, and again, though bland, it is edible. I have had good salads with about two-thirds chopped T. fluminensis leaves, and about a third avocado, with dressing.

I learned that if you eat a little too much, it will have a mild laxative effect. Also, if you pick it and store it in your refrigerator for a few days, the leaves will darken and begin to decompose. They do not have the keeping quality of other greens, like lamb’s quarter for example.

In the early 90s, we used to collect and sell bagged wild salad and wild soup mixes at the local farmers markets and to Wild Oats market. Though we initially added the T. fluminensis leaves, we discontinued that practice because the leaves would turn black in a day or two, whereas all the other wild leaves that we collected and bagged would last for up to two weeks.

Still, the plant is so widespread that it is worth getting to know. I don’t use it extremely often, but I do occasionally add some of the green leaves to a fresh salad, and sometimes soups. I might add the Tradescantia fluminensis leaves to dishes where the other wild leaves are very hot or spicy, as a way to balance out the flavor.

A mentor of mine recently revealed that he’d been using these green wandering jew or spiderwort leaves for over 40 years as one of the ingredients of a wild kim-chee that he makes by soaking various greens in raw apple cider vinegar.

He has also pickled the purple flowers of Tradescantia pallida and found them delicious. However, the pickled leaves were described as “palatable,” and the pickled stems as “ok.” Of course, relative palatability is largely determined by how you prepare any given plant, and how you season it. At least I learned that, yes, you can also eat the purple wandering Jew.

Remember, always eat any new food sparingly to see how your body reacts, and never eat any wild food if you haven’t positively identified it.

I’d love to hear from any readers who try these foods.

Nyerges is the author of “Guide to Wild Foods” and other books. He leads regular ethnobotany walks. He can be reached at School of Self-reliance , Box 41834 , Eagle Rock, CA 90041, or www.ChristopherNyerges.com .

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Home » Lifestyle » Gardening » Tradescantia Pallida: The Purple Wandering Jew Plant

Tradescantia Pallida: The Purple Wandering Jew Plant

What is Tradescantia Pallida?

Tradescantia Pallida is a species of spiderwort, a group of 85 species of herbacenous perennial wildflowers of the Commelinaceae family. The name comes from Latin specific epithet pallida meaning pale.

Table of Contents

History of Tradescantia Pallida

Tradescantia Pallida is native to Mexico. The plant was introduced and widely grown for its ornamental purposes as houseplants across tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, the species is planted in gardens across the islands. It is starting to escape from cultivated areas into adjacent natural areas.

know about: aphids bugs

Tradescantia Pallida – Description

Tradescantia pallida is an evergreen perennial native of northeast Mexico, grown as an ornamental for its striking purple foliage. The scientific name has been changed from the previous Secretase pallida to Tradescantia pallida . The plant may be treated as a succulent because the leaves, stems and roots are thick. Commonly known as purple hearts, these plants can be used as a ground cover, cascading in baskets, or as a houseplant. In tropical and semi-tropical areas, it is commonly grown outdoors as a popular, albeit weedy, ground cover. It has a trailing habit and features thick but fragile stems clad with pointed, narrow-oblong, V-shaped leaves. The stems can trail to 18” or more. The flower is small, three-petaled and pale lavender or pink in colour. Tradescantia Pallida (Purple heart plant) has distinctive flowers that usually bloom during warm weather emerging from their stem tips. They appear in clusters and do not have a scent.

See also:  Purple fleabane : Physical features, cultivation, uses and toxicity

know about: olive tree

Tradescantia Pallida: Facts 

Can Tradescantia pallida (Purple heart) grow indoors?

Purple heart is an adaptable plant. It is often used as ground cover to add colour and flowers to the garden landscape. Tradescantia pallida can thrive as a container plant on the patio or in a hanging basket indoors all year round. If you move it outdoors for the summer, keep it shaded from direct sun during the hottest part of the day. Growing purple heart in full sun will help it develop the bright purple colour. When growing it indoors, keep the plant where it can get maximum light (at least 8 hours of bright, indirect sunlight or filtered light a day).

How to care for Tradescantia pallida?

Tradescantia pallida or Purple Heart Plant care is relatively easy. It is one of the best plants for beginners to grow.

Tradescantia pallida (purple heart) grows best in partial shade but can tolerate full sun areas. It should not receive direct afternoon sunlight for more than an hour or two. The plant can grow in partial shade but its stem is more likely to appear green than purple. Place them indoors in a spot where they will receive bright, indirect light. It is best to keep these plants in brighter conditions over time, however, too much direct sunlight can lead to foliage burn.

Tradescantia pallida plants will grow best in soil that is lightweight, porous and moist. Good drainage is a must. The plant tolerates a wide pH range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.

Tradescantia pallida are considered to be drought-tolerant and would not require a great deal of watering. For best growth, do not let the plant sit dry for long periods. In the winter, Purple Heart will enter its dormancy period, so ensure that it gets just enough water to stay healthy. Younger plants will require more moisture than adults and must be watered weekly. If you grow your Purple Heart in pots or containers, ensure the presence of sufficient drainage holes at the bottom and fill it with soil that offers adequate water retention and good drainage.

Fertili s er

Tradescantia Pallida can be nourished with a diluted liquid balanced fertiliser monthly during the growing season. Dilute the fertiliser to about half its regular strength to avoid leaf burn. The occasional feeding can reinvigorate growth and make the colours more vibrant.

Temperature

Exposure to extreme heat must be avoided in outdoor gardens. This tough plant can thrive in a wide range of temperatures but they prefer normal temperatures, ranging from 60-70°F during the day and 50-55°F at night.

Tradescantia Pallida grows long stems and due to its fast growth rate, it can quickly become leggy. Prune the plant back after flowering in the fall to manage its growth. Yearly grooming encourages bushier growth. Be sure to use sharp scissors and wear gloves as the stem sap can cause skin irritations and burns.

Propagation: Tradescantia pallida in soil and water

You can either propagate Tradescantia Pallida from seeds or through stem cuttings. However, since seeds are rarely available, most gardeners use cuttings.

Cut just below a segment node of the mother plant (about 4-6 inches). With tradescantia pallida, propagating cuttings is simple. Place the stem directly in the moist garden or potting soil and keep it moist until new growth. Water the soil thoroughly. Keep it for 1-2 weeks in a warm and bright place. Once roots or new growth appear, pot them in a container. New growth appears in about 4-5 weeks.

Although soil propagation can be a quicker way to grow new plants, water propagation makes it visually attractive the roots are visible. Remove the bottom leaves on the cuttings and place them in a glass of water. Set the glass on a windowsill with bright sunlight. Change the water regularly and wait for the roots to grow to about two inches. After two weeks, the stem will have grown a solid set of roots and can be transplanted to well-draining potting soil to maintain growth.

Tradescantia pallida: Insects, diseases and other plant problems

Tradescantia pallida, the hardy plant, is unlikely to have too many plant diseases. Overwatering can lead to root rot so ensure that there is no excess water within the plant’s drainage tray. Brown foliage is often due to a lack of moisture or humidity. It can also be due to intense direct sunlight. Ensure that it is getting enough water and is in a spot that receives bright, indirect sunlight.

Caterpillars and snails can create a problem outdoors so try to place a defensive barrier around it with a layer of gravel or wood chips.

Tradescantia pallida can attract aphids, weevils, scale and mealybugs . If an infestation is spotted, isolate the plant and treat it with neem oil, eucalyptus oil or citrus oil spray for primary treatment.

see also: all about Tradescantia Fluminensis

Tradescantia pallida: Uses and benefits

• A well-placed Tradescantia Pallida will make an immense visual difference in any garden or home space. Tradescantia pallida make for lovely hanging plants or groundcovers and can add a lush texture to the garden. The purple leaves are a nice contrast variegated foliage and complement the pink, light purple or burgundy blossoms of other plant
• Tradescantia Pallida is effective in improving indoor air quality by filtering volatile organic compounds.
• The plant has anti-oxidant, anti-toxic and anti-inflammatory properties. It has traditionally been used as an anti-toxic or anti-inflammatory supplement. It has also been used to treat venereal diseases, wounds, cancer, mucosal infections and gastrointestinal disorders.

Is purple heart plant toxic?

None of its parts is toxic. But when ingested, it may cause digestive tract irritation or irritation of the mouth. Therefore, keep the purple heart plant away from pets. It may cause contact dermatitis in certain individuals. Therefore, it is suggested to use gloves when pruning, repotting or propagating the plant.

Is Tradescantia pallida a perennial?

Tradescantia pallida, Purple Heart, is a tender perennial, commonly used as a houseplant. It has beautiful trailing purple stems with violet-purple leaves and pink flowers.

How long do Tradescantia pallida (purple hearts) last?

Each flower lasts only for a day. It is grown outdoors as a decorative ground cover since it tends to become invasive and lasts longer than most bedding plants.

Which are the other Tradescantia species?

There are over 70 beautiful Tradescantia varieties. Depending on the species, tradescantias are typically purple and often flecked with silvers, greens, creams, pinks and gold. Many of the light foliage varieties have dark purple undersides, which creates a lovely effect. Besides the purple heart plant, Tradescantia pallida, ‘Variegata’, has striped pink-and-red foliage. Rhoeo spathacea, Moses in the Basket, has sword-shaped purple-and-green foliage. Tradescantia virginiana has a grass-like appearance with blue-purple or red flowers. Tradescantia zebrina houseplant has variegated olive and silver foliage with a purple underside. Tradescantia sillamontana has green leaves, densely covered in white hair and magenta-pink flowers.

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Purnima Goswami Sharma is a freelance writer based in Mumbai, who has been contributing to various newspapers, magazines and portals for the last two decades. Besides being a research writer for various TV shows, she has been a visiting faculty at SNDT for Communication Skills. She hold a master’s degree in English Literature from Mumbai University and a diploma in Communications and Journalism. She writes on diverse subjects like real estate, interiors, education, lifestyle, health, entertainment and environment.

Email : [email protected]

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Antioxidant Content, Antioxidant Activity, and Antibacterial Activity of Five Plants from the Commelinaceae Family

Commelinaceae is a family of herbaceous flowering plants with many species used in ethnobotany, particularly in South America. However, thus far reports of their bioactivity are few and far between. The primary aim of this study was to quantify the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of five Commelinaceae methanolic leaf extracts. The antioxidant content was evaluated by the total phenolic content (TPC), total tannin content (TTC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) assays. The antioxidant activities measured were DPPH free radical scavenging (FRS), ferric reducing power (FRP), and ferrous ion chelating (FIC); of the five plants, the methanolic leaf extract of Tradescantia zebrina showed the highest antioxidant content and activity, and exhibited antibacterial activity against six species of Gram-positive and two species of Gram-negative bacteria in a range of 5–10 mg/mL based on the broth microdilution method.

1. Introduction

The Commelinaceae family comprises 37 genera and over 600 species [ 1 ] of monocotyledonous herbaceous flowering plants [ 2 , 3 ], notably the spiderworts ( Tradescantia sp.). They are believed to have originated from the old world tropics, but now they are widely distributed throughout the sub-tropics and tropics of both hemispheres, with some species surviving even in more temperate climates [ 4 ]. These plants are often grown for ornamental purposes due to their bluish or purplish leaves and/or flowers, but are also known to be used ethnobotanically to treat many diseases, including mycosal infections [ 5 ], venereal diseases [ 6 ], wounds [ 7 ], gastrointestinal disorders, and cancer [ 8 ], which may be linked to their antibacterial and antioxidant properties. However, reports on the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of these plants have remained rare so far.

Plants of this family are a good source of renewable bioactive compounds, as members of the Commelinaceae are generally evergreen, perennial, hardy, and prolific. Like other silicon-accumulating plant families such as the Gramineae (rice/wheat) and Cucurbitales (pumpkin/squash), Commelinaceae are less prone to growth, development, and reproduction abnormalities than plants with less efficient silicon accumulation [ 9 ]. In fact, many species of the Commelinaceae are considered weeds and pests due to their rapid growth, hardiness, and ability to root at the nodes. They are also resilient to most herbicides, and able to rapidly regenerate if left untreated [ 4 ]. However, these same traits also make them an ideal renewable and abundant resource for bioactive compounds.

The antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Rhoeo spathacea (Swartz) Stearn leaves had been previously reported by our group [ 10 ]. In the present paper, two other cultivars of R. spathacea are reported; this represents the first time the bioactivity of these cultivars has been studied. The first is Rhoeo bermudensis , a dwarf cultivar of R. spathacea that is also known as Tradescantia spathacea “Hawaiian Dwarf”, or Rhoeo spathacea nana. It is physically similar to R. spathacea (Swartz) Stearn, albeit much smaller—its leaves are a mere 10–20 cm long, compared to 15–30 cm for R. spathacea (Swartz) Stearn. The overall plant grows to 30–45 cm tall, approximately 60% of the height of R. spathacea (Swartz) Stearn. Unlike R. spathacea , it lacks flowers, but is able to root readily at the nodes and spread across the ground rapidly, like many other species of the Commelinaceae family [ 4 ]. It is colloquially known as the Hawaiian dwarf, or dwarf oyster plant [ 11 ]. The second cultivar, Rhoeo spathacea var. variegata, is also known as Rhoeo spathacea vittata and bears resemblance to R. spathacea (Swartz) Stearn, but with yellow striations on the upper side of the leaves instead of the stark green upper side of the original cultivar [ 12 ].

Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D. R. Hunt., also known as purple heart or wandering jew, is a low-growing tetraploid plant that is shade-tolerant, able to thrive on various soil conditions, and possesses strong resistance to insects and parasites. These traits allow it to rapidly colonize various environments, acting as an invasive weed [ 13 , 14 ]. Therefore, it is well adapted and widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions [ 15 , 16 ] and is commonly being grown as an ornamental, ground-covering, or hanging plant. Although also renowned for its ability to effectively remove volatile organic pollutants from the air [ 17 ], T. pallida has also been traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-toxic supplement, and to improve blood circulation [ 18 ].

Similarly, Tradescantia zebrina Bosse var. zebrina , a close relative to T. pallida , is similarly categorized as an invasive plant species, and commonly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions [ 19 ]. It has oval, pointed leaves, variegated green and silver stripes on the upper surface, with a purple underside [ 20 , 21 ]. T. zebrina is traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal disorders [ 22 ].Other studies have also reported that T. zebrina exhibits insecticidal properties [ 23 ] and can inhibit the 15-lipoxygenase pathway involved in asthmatic attacks [ 24 ].

Callisia fragrans Wood. (basket plant) is an all-green plant of the Commelinaceae family. Its leaves and runners contain phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and phytosteroids. C. fragrans is traditionally used to treat burns, arthritis, skin and oncological diseases, tuberculosis, and asthma [ 25 ]. Amongst the phenolic compounds reported to be present in C. fragrans are gallic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, scopoletin, and chicoric acid [ 26 ].

Thus far, antioxidant and antibacterial activity studies on plants from the Commelinaceae family have been relatively limited. The antioxidant and antibacterial activity of R. spathacea variegata, R. bermudensis , T. pallida , and T. zebrina leaves have never been reported. The antioxidant activity of the juice pressed from C. fragrans has been reported by Misin and Sazhina [ 27 ] and Olennikov et al. [ 28 ]. However, the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of C. fragrans methanolic leaf extracts has never been reported. This is therefore the first report of the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the methanolic leaf extracts for all five Commelinaceae plants.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. samples.

Fresh leaf samples of all five species were obtained from Selangor, Malaysia, within a 10 km radius. All plants were grown under similar conditions: a monthly mean minimum temperature from 20.8 °C to 25.0 °C, with a monthly mean maximum temperature from 29.6 °C to 32.8 °C; grown on soil; exposed to sunlight (mean daily solar radiation of 19.70 MJ/m 2 ) and rain (300–400 mm/month) [ 29 ]; and with no fertilizer. For the antioxidant tests, for each species, leaves of similar size were collected from three different individual plants ( n = 3).

Bacterial isolates were obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), with the exception of Proteus vulgaris, which was obtained from the Institute of Medical Research (IMR), Malaysia. A total of 12 strains of bacteria were used: six Gram-positive bacteria ( Bacillus cereus (ATCC 14579), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 8188), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Micrococcus luteus (ATCC 4698), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 33591), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228)) and six Gram-negative bacteria ( Aeromonas hydrophila (ATCC 49140), Enterobacter aerogenes (ATCC 13048), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 10145), Proteus mirabilis (ATCC 12453), Proteus vulgaris (clinical), and Salmonella enterica Typhimurium (ATCC 14028)). All bacteria were grown on nutrient agar at 37 °C.

2.2. Chemicals and Reagents

The various reagents used throughout this project were purchased from suppliers as follows. TPC analysis: Folin-Ciocalteu’s phenol reagent (2N, R and M Chemicals, Essex, UK), gallic acid (98%, Fluka, Steinheim, France), anhydrous sodium carbonate (99%, J. Kollin, UK), diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (90%, Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA), ferric reducing power (FRP) assay: ferric chloride hexa-hydrate (100%, Fisher Scientific, Loughborough, UK), potassium ferricyanide (99%, Unilab, Auburn, Australia), trichloroacetic acid (99.8%, HmbG Chemicals, Barcelona, Spain), potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate (99.5%, Fisher Scientific), dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (99%, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), iron chloride (99%, RandM Chemicals), ferrous ion chelating (FIC) assay: ferrozine (98%, Acros Organics, Morris Plains, NJ, USA), ferrous sulphate hepta-hydrate (HmbG Chemicals), ethylenediaminetetraacetic (99.5%, Bendosen Laboratory Chemicals, Bendosen, Norway), potassium acetate (99%, R and M chemicals), rutin (98%, Sigma), phytochemical screening: sulfuric acid (95%–97%, HmBG Chemicals), hydrochloric acid (37%, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), Dragendorff reagent (Fluka), α-naphthol (99%, Sigma), antimicrobial activity: nutrient broth (Oxoid, Hampshire, England), nutrient agar (Oxoid, Hampshire, England), and vancomycin (Sigma).

2.3. Extraction of Samples

The fresh leaves were gently washed and dabbed dry before being processed. One gram of leaf sample was subjected to liquid nitrogen-aided crushing with a mortar and pestle, followed by extraction with 50 mL of solvent for an hour at room temperature. Different compositions of methanol (50%, 70%, or 100%) were chosen for the extraction from the different species based on the best extraction efficiency (as determined by TPC). R. bermudensis and C. fragrans were extracted with 50% methanol (84.2% and 88.6% extraction efficiency, respectively), R. spathacea variegata with 70% methanol (89.9% extraction efficiency), and T. zebrina and T. pallida with 100% methanol (92.3% and 83.1% extraction efficiency, respectively). Extracts were filtered and stored at 8 °C when not in use. All analyses were conducted in triplicates.

2.4. Determination of Total Phenolic Content (TPC)

The TPC assay was modified from [ 30 ] utilizing the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent. Samples (300 μL, in triplicate) were mixed with 1.5 mL of the 10% Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, followed by an addition of 1.2 mL of 7.5% (w/v) sodium carbonate (Na 2 CO 3 ) solution. The test tubes were then left to stand for 30 min in the dark at room temperature before the absorbance values were measured at 765 nm with a Hitachi U-1800 spectrophotometer (Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan). The total phenolic content was expressed as mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g of fresh sample (mg GAE/100 g).

2.5. DPPH Free Radical Scavenging (FRS) Assay

The DPPH assay was based on the procedures described in Leong and Shui [ 31 ] and Miliauskas et al. [ 32 ], where the reduction of the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical was measured spectrophotometrically to determine the radical scavenging activity of the extract. Two mL of DPPH solution (5.9 mg in 100 mL methanol) was added to 1 mL of three different concentrations of the sample extract. The absorbance of the solution was measured at 517 nm after a 30 min incubation time. The free radical scavenging (FRS) activity was expressed as ascorbic acid (AA) equivalent antioxidant capacity (mg AA/100 g) using the equation: FRS = IC 50(AA) /IC 50(sample) × 10 5 . IC 50(AA) was 0.00387 mg/mL [ 33 ].

2.6. Ferric Reducing Power (FRP) Assay

The FRP was determined with potassium ferricyanide, as in the procedure described by Tan and Chan [ 34 ]. This assay assessed the ability of any antioxidants present in the extracts to reduce ferric ions (Fe 3+ ) to ferrous ions (Fe 2+ ). One mL of sample extract of different dilutions was added with 2.5 mL of 0.2 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.6) and 2.5 mL of 1% (w/v) potassium ferricyanide. The mixture was incubated in a 50 °C water bath for 20 min. Subsequently, 2.5 mL of 10% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid was added to stop the reaction. Next, the mixture in each test tube was separated into aliquots of 2.5 mL, added to 2.5 mL of miliQ water and 0.5 mL of 0.1% (w/v) FeCl 3 . The mixtures were incubated at room temperature for 30 min before the absorbance was measured at 700 nm. FRP was expressed as mg gallic acid equivalent per gram of sample, mg GAE/g using a gallic acid standard curve.

2.7. Ferrous Ion Chelating (FIC) Assay

The ferrous ion chelating activity of the extract was based on the procedures described in Mau et al. [ 35 ], and Singh and Rajini [ 36 ]. One mL of 0.1 mM FeSO 4 was added to 1 mL of sample of different dilutions (0.2, 0.5, and 1 mL of extract, corresponding to 4 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg of leaf material, respectively), followed by 1 mL of 0.25 mM ferrozine. The mixtures were incubated at room temperature for 10 min before the absorbance was measured at 562 nm. It was expressed as the percentage of iron chelating activity. EDTA (0.017–0.067 mg/mL) was used as a positive control.

2.8. Determination of Total Flavonoid Content (TFC)

The flavonoid content was determined with the aluminum chloride colorimetric method as described in Chew et al. [ 37 ]. Equal volumes of 10% aluminum chloride and 1.0 M potassium acetate (0.1 mL each) were added to 0.5 mL of extract, followed by 2.8 mL of distilled water. The solutions were mixed well and incubated at room temperature for 30 min before the absorbance was taken at 435 nm. The flavonoid concentration was expressed as mg rutin equivalent per 100 g sample, mg RE/100 g.

2.9. Total Tannin Content (TTC)

Total tannins were determined based on the method described by Makkar et al. [ 38 ], which compares the TPC extracts treated with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) with those untreated. Tannins, being protein-binding phenolic compounds, would bind to the PVPP.

The TPC was determined via the Folin–Ciocalteau method as detailed previously. For PVPP treatment, 1 mL of distilled water was added to 100 mg PVPP before adding 1 mL of extract. The mixture was vortexed, incubated at 4 °C for 15 min, vortexed again, and centrifuged at 3000 g for 10 min. The supernatant (consisting of simple phenolics other than tannins) was collected and the phenolic content was determined using the TPC assay. Tannic acid was used to plot the standard curve. Results were expressed as mg equivalent per 100 g sample (mg TAE/100 g).

2.10. Determination of Antimicrobial Activity

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the samples was determined using the broth microdilution technique in 96-well flat bottom microtiter plates as described by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [ 39 ], with a few modifications. Nutrient broth (180 μL) was loaded into all the wells of the first column of the 96-well plate, followed by 100 μL of nutrient broth in all the other wells. Twenty μL of each sample type (200 mg/mL stock concentration of leaf extract) was loaded into the first column in triplicate, enabling two samples to be run concurrently on a single plate. Serial doubling dilution was then performed nine times, keeping the volume of each well at 100 μL. One hundred μL of nutrient broth inoculated with bacteria the day before was standardized with the McFarland standard and then loaded into these wells for a final working concentration of sample ranging from 10 mg/mL to 0.02 mg/mL. The plates were then incubated overnight. The lowest concentration, where complete inhibition was observed with the unaided eye, was noted as the MIC. Vancomycin (10–0.02 mg/mL) was used as a positive control.

2.11. Statistical Analysis

One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a post-hoc Tukey range test were performed to determine significance. A probability value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Analysis was done using SPSS 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

3. Results and Discussion

According to Table 1 , T. zebrina exhibited the highest TPC, TTC, TFC, FRS, and FRP of all the plants tested in this study. T. zebrina methanolic leaf extracts also contained higher TPC, FRS, FRP, and TFC than R. spathacea (Swartz) Stearn methanolic leaf extracts [ 10 ], showing the highest antioxidant content amongst the Commelinaceae reported to date. Moreover, T. zebrina has a TPC comparable to lemon myrtle tea, which was previously reported as the herbal tea with the highest TPC in a study comparing 18 tropical and temperate herbal teas [ 33 ]; our extract was prepared from 1 g fresh leaf while the lemon myrtle decoction was prepared from 1 g powder. This finding is relevant, as T. zebrina is traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal cancer and disorders [ 8 ], and consumed as a tea called “Matali” in Mexico. It is therefore worthy of further investigation and promotion as an herbal tea. In addition, approximately 82% of its phenolic content consisted of tannins, a class of phenolic compounds with potent antioxidant and antibacterial activities [ 40 ].

Total phenolic content (TPC), total tannin content (TTC), total flavonoid content (TFC), free radical scavenging (FRS), and ferric reducing power (FRP) of the various Commelinaceae leaf extracts.

Results are expressed as mean ± S.D. ( n = 3); For each column, values followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p < 0.05 as measured by the Tukey HSD test; All gram measurements are expressed in terms of fresh weight; * Values in parentheses are in terms of mg TAE/100 g.

C. fragrans and R. bermudensis had the second-highest TPC, which was half that of T. zebrina . The antioxidant content of the juice pressed from C. fragrans leaves has been previously reported as being 73.2 mg/L of juice sample [ 27 ] with an IC 50 of 1.07 mg/mL, based on the DPPH radical scavenging assay [ 28 ]. In comparison, the methanolic leaf extract of C. fragrans in our study had an IC 50 of 1.5 ± 0.4; a comparable result with the previously reported value. On the other hand, comparing the antioxidant content was less straightforward because the juice yield was not reported by Misin and Sazhina [ 27 ], and it was unclear if the values reported had factored in the 100-fold dilution of their sample. However, using the juice yield reported by Olennikov et al. [ 28 ] (0.8 L juice per kilogram of leaves), and assuming that the value reported by Misin and Sazhina [ 27 ] was based on the undiluted juice, the antioxidant content of the juice would have been 5.85 mg/100 g. Although this value took into account all antioxidants, including non-phenolic antioxidants, it was over 45-fold lower than our methanolic leaf extract. The TPC of the juice has also been reported as 7.12 μg GAE/mL [ 26 ], which is equivalent to 0.6 mg GAE/100 g—almost 450 times lower than the TPC of the methanolic leaf extract. Methanolic extraction of C. fragrans is therefore more efficient than squeezing tissues for juice, and the leaves of C. fragrans contain a higher phenolic content than the runners reported by Olennikov et al. [ 26 ].

The methanolic extract of C. fragrans also exhibited by far the highest FIC activity ( Figure 1 ), with a chelating EC 50 of 17.3 mg leaf material. R. spathacea variegata exhibited the second highest FIC, but did not achieve EC 50 at the concentrations tested, thus indicating reasonably weak FIC activity. The other species exhibited practically no FIC activity. This indicates that the antioxidants present in some of the Commelinaceae leaves lack the ability to chelate ferrous ions when compared to ferrozine and thus have low or no secondary antioxidant activity, which implies the low ability of the extracts to prevent the Fenton reaction. This shows that the primary antioxidant activity of a plant (as measured by the FRS and FRP assays) does not necessarily reflect its secondary antioxidant activity due to the differences in mechanisms [ 41 ]. The primary antioxidant activities of the five species did, however, show a strong positive correlation with the TPC (FRS: R = 0.98, p < 0.001; FRP: R = 0.97, p < 0.001) and a good positive correlation with the TTC (FRS: R = 0.85, p < 0.001; FRP: R = 0.85, p < 0.001), but not with the TFC (FRS: R = 0.61, p = 0.020; FRP: R = 0.65, p = 0.012). This shows that tannins play a stronger role than flavonoids in single electron transfer-based primary antioxidant activity.

Ferrous ion chelating (FIC) activity of the various Commelinaceae leaf extracts.

R. bermudensis and R. spathacea variegata showed: (1) lower TPC, FRS, and FRP and (2) higher TFC than R. spathacea (Swartz) Stearn [ 10 ], despite being closely related. Almost 80% of R. spathacea variegata’s phenolic compounds are in the form of tannins, while only a third of the phenolic compounds in R. bermudensis were tannins. Although the TPC of R. bermudensis was similar to C. fragrans and not much higher than R. spathacea variegata, R. bermudensis exhibited exceptionally high FRS and FRP activity. It is therefore likely that the phenolic compounds present in R. bermudensis are more effective antioxidants and free radical scavengers than those present in the other species.

All five Commelinaceae species demonstrated antibacterial activity against most of the strains, although the six Gram-negative strains proved more resistant to treatment, with only two showing susceptibility at an extract concentration of 10 mg/mL or below ( Table 2 ). The lower susceptibility of the Gram-negative strains can be attributed to their higher outer layer impermeability [ 42 ], an observation consistent with the antibacterial activity of R. spathacea (Swartz) Stearn [ 10 ]. Of the five Commelinaceae species, T. zebrina exhibited the best antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, with a MIC of 5 mg/mL against three strains, while the other four Commelinaceae leaf extracts had a MIC of 5 mg/mL on fewer than three strains. T. zebrina also showed antibacterial activity against two of the six Gram-negative strains, with a MIC of 5 mg/mL. The superior antibacterial activity of T. zebrina compared to the other tested species may be attributed to its exceptionally high phenolic and tannin content. The superior antioxidant and antibacterial activity of T. zebrina compared to the other Commelinaceae may explain several of its ethnopharmalogical applications, particularly its anti-inflammatory and anti-infective activity [ 43 , 44 ]. Surprisingly, T. pallida was similarly active against Gram-negative bacteria (MIC of 5 mg/mL against the same two Gram-negative strains) despite having the lowest antioxidant content and activity. It is likely that the phenolic compounds present may be more potent anti-Gram-negative agents in T. zebrina than in T. pallida , and/or the anti-Gram-negative compounds present may not necessarily be phenolics (for example, terpenoids or alkaloids). The leaves of T. zebrina and T. pallida warrant future isolation and identification work given their activity against Gram-negative bacteria, as the isolated compound(s) are likely to have a lower MIC than the crude extracts used in this experiment.

MIC of Commelinaceae leaf extracts against 12 species of bacteria.

MIC expressed as mg/mL; Vancomycin MIC < 0.02 mg/mL; P. aeruginosa (ATCC 10145), P. mirabilis (ATCC 12453), S. typhimurium (ATCC 14028), and E. aerogenes (ATCC 13048) have MIC exceeding 10 mg/mL for all the crude fractions.

4. Conclusions

T. zebrina exhibited the highest antioxidant content and antioxidant activity of the five Commelinaceae plants studied, higher than the previously-reported antioxidant content and activity of R. spathacea (Swartz) Stearn leaves. All five leaf extracts exhibited varying degrees of antibacterial activity against many of the bacteria tested, with T. zebrina being the most active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Monash University Malaysia for the financial support.

Author Contributions

This project was conceived and designed by Tan Joash Ban Lee and Lim Yau Yan. Tan Joash Ban Lee, Tan Shen Yeng, and Yap Wei Jin performed the experiments. Tan Joash Ban Lee and Lim Yau Yan analyzed the data. Tan Joash Ban Lee, Lim Yau Yan and Lee Sui Mae jointly supervised Tan Shen Yeng and Yap Wei Jin, and provided the resources required for the experiments (reagents/facilities/materials). Tan Joash Ban Lee wrote the paper, and all parties contributed to the editing process.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Plant Detail Show Menu

Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart' or 'Purpurea'

Common name(s):.

• Moses in the Basket
• Purple Heart
• Purple Queen
• Purple Spiderwort

Previously known as:

• Setcreasea pallida
• Setcreasea purpurea

‘Purple Heart’ or 'Purpurea' 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.   

‘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.

• 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.
• 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
• 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
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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