Purple-heart spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida)
Purple-heart spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida) is a plant of succulent leaves that can grow 10cm – 50cm tall and 10cm – 50cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Purple-heart spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida).
This plant is commonly known as purple-heart spiderwort.
This is a evergreen plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: purple-heart spiderwort
Scientific name: Tradescantia pallida
Plant type: Cactus / Succulent, Perennials
Habit: Trailing
Height: 10cm – 50cm
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Garden type: Patio & Container Garden
Planting type: Low Maintenance
Other characteristics: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Purple-heart spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida) – Adrián Pablo Rodríguez Quiroga, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cacti and succulent plants are appreciated for their natural charm, mainly for their leaf shapes, but also in some cases for their colorful flowers in spring and summer.
They should be cultivated in areas that mimic the conditions in which they grow in nature, which are usually exposed places with stony and fast-draining soils.
These characteristics make them to be grown in pots.
Other types of Tradescantia to consider:
See all Tradescantia
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Purple-heart spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Purple-heart spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida) is a plant that prefers to grow in loam or sand.
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Tradescantia pallida likes to grow in moist but well drained soil.
Sunlight
Purple-heart spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Purple-heart spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida) – Mokkie, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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