Purple Heart
4.7 out of 5 (82 experiences)
Fast grower
Survivor
About Purple Heart
Tradescantia pallida, also known as the purple heart plant, is an exceptionally easy plant to care for and rewards growers with delightful purple blossoms. Their small flowers are heart shaped, which gives them their name. They are extremely easy to propagate by stem and one plant can give rise to dozens of new ones, which makes them great for sharing. 🤝 As houseplants they often trail, but will also creep along the ground if grown outdoors. Their succulent leaves make them sensitive to frost, so be sure to bring them indoors if your winter temperatures dip below freezing. ❄️
Taxonomy
Tradescantia pallida
Tradescantia
Commelinaceae
Commelinales
Also known as
Setcreasea pallida 'Purple Heart', Purple Fuzz, 'Blue Sue' and Purple Fuzzy
How to care for Purple Heart
How often to water your Purple Heart
every 9
Purple Heart needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Purple Heart in your home
a window
Purple Heart may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Purple Heart in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Purple Heart
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Purple Heart after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
-
#PurpleHeart As always I have to show my 💜s to everyone when they flower I've counted 8 flowers that's the most I've had in 1 go I've heard these plants are natural trailers but my Girl just keeps heading for the sky I support her with Sticks and she's happy enough Her leaves are not as purple as I see others plants on here But she does catch the 🌞in her window sill Have a happy peaceful Sunday Everyone 💚☕🫖
-
I think mushu is dying #PurpleHeart I've never taken care of a plant before and realised a week ago that I've been overwatering my purple heart Mushu. I only have these two stems left and I'm scared that he won't survive. I would appreciate any help!
-
#purpleheart #purpleflowers I just always have to show you the latest flowers on my "Luna" 💜This plant I bought in April this year as a lil cutting as in the pic! 😍What a fast grower she's been She's 2 and a half feet so far I don't know how taller she will get there's still some room on the window she lives on #happyplants 💜💚💜💚💜💚💜
-
My purple spider plant is growing like crazy  #HappyPlants #BeforeAndAfter
-
#PurpleHeart #HappPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy I ordered this Purple Heart plant after someone had posted photos of their beautiful plant. Two weeks in and I already have a baby forming! #NewGrowth
-
Cut back my purple heart A few days ago I cut back my purple heart plant as it had gotten a bit to heavy to keep itself up. Now the leaves have become a white/pink colour, is this normal? #NewGrowth #CuttingsClub #PurpleHeart #help
-
Best way to keep tradescantia? #PurpleHeart I found some growing outside of my girlfriend’s work and decided why not? I currently have it in a jar of distilled water and roots are starting to form, which is obviously exciting for me, however, I do have concerns about my cats potentially getting at it. They are not really allowed in the room it’s in but sometimes they sneak in so rather than putting it in a pot and throwing it outside, I was kind of considering throwing it in one or two of my frog enclosures. Does anyone keep their tradescantia in vivariums? How much root do I need before moving it from the water to the soil? Will eco earth be suitable to plant this in? I recently lost a beautiful pothos to switching from water to soil so I’m very anxious about making this move. Is this something yall would recommend or do you have any better suggestions? Thank you!
-
#purpleheart Another Repot of the year 😍She was really potbound and had been looking a little bit sad I got her as a cutting 4 mths ago off EBAY She's a fast grower I'll say #happyplants
-
Inch plants - love them to bits
-
#floweringplants I'm glad I checked my girl Luna 😍 I could of missed this 🌸 Shame they don't last long but always a nice sight 😍🌿🪴💚💜 Good grower this one
Care Summary for Purple Heart
Purple Heart
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 9 days
Placement
< 3ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Fast grower 57
Survivor 49
Easy to propagate 48
Large, lush leaves 17
Blooms easily 15
Browns easily 10
Pest magnet 1
09/02/2021
Like any tradescantia these are basically gonna thrive the minute you keep them hydrated and in partial sun. I started this monster of a plant in May from a cutting (with one tiny sad stem) and since then I already had to repot twice. Since May. Now I’m not allowing it to grow anymore, let see what winter brings.
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
08/19/2021
One of my Mom’s favorites, very easy to grow in containers or garden
Fast grower
Blooms easily
08/03/2021
Pretty low maintenance plant, as I think most are in this family. I’ve personally had a hard time keeping its purple coloring- despite it getting pretty bright light. It seems happy enough nonetheless, and has grown quite a bit from the little plug it started from.
Fast grower
07/14/2021
they grow fast in the right conditions!!
Fast grower
Survivor
07/09/2021
Very easy to grow, just plot it in the dirt!
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Survivor
07/06/2021
Another challenging plant to keep healthy indoors at least for me.
Survivor
07/05/2021
Idk what happened but my plant started off purple and changed to a more green color but I do have it closer to my window but it has been growing very fast but the purple variegation died off
Fast grower
Browns easily
06/30/2021
The pink and white leaves are beautiful!
Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily
Easy to propagate
Fast grower
06/19/2021
This is a great plant for hanging or climbing. If you give it more shade or it gets root bound it will turn green. It grows quickly so keep an eye on the roots. If it gets rooted just give it a larger pot. Works very well outside as a planter cover as well. Vibrant beautiful purple leaves and stems with lavender flowers.
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Blooms easily
Survivor
06/18/2021
Honestly, this is one of the easiest plants I’ve ever had. I received a cutting from a friend and two weeks later there was roots all over and new growth. It’s a beautiful color as well.
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Survivor
06/15/2021
This was a cutting from the state capitol. Dies back in the winter, so I brought it in the house and it is doing fantastic. My daughter broke a piece off and this is the broken piece.
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Survivor
06/11/2021
these guys break super easily, but it’s easy to root the broken limbs into new plants
Easy to propagate
06/11/2021
I just love this plant for its vibrant pink leaves.
Easy to propagate
06/10/2021
I should name her survivor! I dropped her and broken almost every piece of it off. She’s coming back with a vengeance. You go girl!
Survivor
Fast grower
06/06/2021
didnt realise this until today but purple hearts can even flower! they’re the ideal plant for over wateres and generally a great survivor under any conditions! my fave plant
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Survivor
06/03/2021
It has been a joy to see the purples and greens mess and how it bring so much color to my room.
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily
05/26/2021
lov
Easy to propagate
Fast grower
Survivor
05/19/2021
Super pretty ☹️ i just love it
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Survivor
05/18/2021
This plant is a SURVIVOR in my house hold. The amount of times I have thought I had killed to plant, or my cats had... it always comes back! I finally moved into a place where it will not be burnt to a crisp and up and away from cats!
Survivor
05/15/2021
Beautiful fast growth. Propagate by cutting and placing directly in dirt... super fast grower!
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Blooms easily
Survivor
Large, lush leaves
Trending in your area
Similar to Purple Heart
✨ Discover rare plants
Ruby Ball
Echeveria Esther
Treasure Flower
Betel
Astroloba congesta
Variegated Arrowhead …
Bonsai Crassula
Thelocactus macdowell…
Dinteranthus microspe…
Graptoveria 'Douglas …
Peperomia 'Harmony's …
Rosularia platyphylla
Anthurium papillilami…
Hoya sipitangensis
Aeonium 'Blushing Bea…
Tillandsia caerulea A…
Red Mistletoe Cactus
