Tradescantia, Purple Heart, Purple Queen, Wandering Jew 'Purpurea'

On Jul 16, 2018, sarathea from Micanopy, FL wrote:

This plant causes a poison-ivy-like, persistent rash that spreads and will not go away, for me. The only way to get rid of it is rx cortisone ointment, much stronger than over the counter cortisone ointments. A wild cousin of this plant, (Tradescantia, called dayflower in Florida), causes the same persistent itchy rash. It should not be sold or kept in gardens, you never know who will have this reaction!

On Feb 24, 2017, smac17 from Olmito, TX wrote:

This plant is SCARY invasive in my yard in south Texas. It just started sprouting up on the other side of a deep-set concrete sidewalk that I was counting on to restrain it. So now I have to weed my lawn of this stuff. In the unrestrained area seems to be moving at about 3-4 ft per year.

On Apr 8, 2016, FlyPoison from Rock Hill, SC (Zone 7a) wrote:

RoundUp or several applications of white vinegar persistently applied will eradicate this plant for any that have had trouble extirpating it.

On Aug 5, 2015, darlingnikki76 from Lithonia, GA wrote:

I don't care about the plant being invasive, that was the point of the purchase. Even though the plant tag said "annual" I knew it would come back year after year....It is surrounding my mailbox and has a plastic border AND river rock border. However, I wish the tag had mentioned the allergy alert. My face and tongue was on fire for 2 days after planting this beast and I had no idea why until I googled every plant I planted that day. Thanx for the info Daves Garden.

I even used gardening gloves. I'll never touch it again lol But it is beautiful. Once it fills out, I'll remove the Sedum 'Dazzleberry' SunSparkler and plant it in the river rock borders.

On Oct 12, 2013, burien_gardener from Burien (SW Seattle), WA (Zone 8b) wrote:

I secured a variegated form of Purple Heart/Queen/etc. Lovely rose-pink against the deep purple.

Great way to get rid of it if you find yourself personally threatened by it: Bring to Seattle for the slugs to eat, and leave out in winter rain to drown and rot. It may be temperature hardy in Seattle, but slugs and 30 in of rain will do it in.

On Jun 20, 2013, txnuby from Rockport, TX wrote:

Hi. It is like this I think the plant is very pretty but I am allergic to it! I bought a house and it was growing everywhere!
So I asked a friend how to kill it. She said save all your pickle juice and boil it then pour boiling pickle juice on it! Pretty drastic and cruel but I tried it and it worked. But as things go more grew up in different places. It is pretty so now all I do is avoid it or wear gloves, long sleeves and wash immediately after working around it in yard. I also wash gloves and clothes separately and run washer through with empty load to clean washer! GRR It is a plant and does give oxygen to air so why not. Yes invasive, but so are many others, you just have to be the adult and keep them under control.
Thanks

On May 8, 2012, cloud92012 from Leeds,
United Kingdom wrote:

My experience with this beautiful and mesmirising plant starts in the Disney Epcot Centre Florida,September 2011.I was visiting the park when and had just exited an attraction when I noticed the eye catching ,unusual purple plant in full bloom with its beautiful flowers. At the time,back home is was in the process of building a terrarium for a gecko native to tropical areas of the world and wanted to create a rainforest type environment with live plants,so immediatly, I decided I wanted this plant. The problem I had was I was several thousand miles from home and would need to get it through US border control. I took a small cuttinf with a couple of leaves, and carried it around in a half filled bottle of water untill I got back to our villa, at which time, I kept it alive on a dish of wate... read morer for the remaining time of our holiday. When it was time to leave for the airport, I carefully placed the cutting in the pocket of my swimming shorts and tried my best to carefully pack it into my case. I was unaware at this stage what the plant was, and was skeptical as to whether it would even survive the journey accross the atlantic in the sub zero temperatures of an aeroplane cargo hold and even if it did, whether or not it would take root. Well, it did, and the formidable US customs did not spot it. When I got home, I planted it with root hormone, cut off all leaves but one and now 9 months on it has grown into a beautiful thriving plant, potted on my window cill. It will eventually be a central piece of my terrarium once I get round to finishing it. Just wonder when I will see the first flowers? Any ideas? Also leaves are hairy.. Is this normal?

On Mar 20, 2012, NYCtropics from New York, NY wrote:

Beautiful plant that grows vigorously during the summer months. And the best part is that its hardy in NYC! Maybe this winter wasnt a great test to find out it's true hardiness in NYC because it was a very mild winter, but Im still really impressed that it survived and is coming back from the ground now on the first day of Spring. Its in a very warm area of the yard where the ground does not freeze at all during mild winters like this one.
Great dieback perennial for at least zone 8a and up, possibly a good perennial in zone 7 as well, epecially during mild winters.

On May 2, 2011, chrshnn from Austell, GA wrote:

Bought home 4 years ago and had no idea plant was in yard. It showed up 2nd year between two crepe myrtles and is now at max a 2 foot wide ball of happy pink flowers on a mound of purple. I have had no problems with it being invasive and until coming to this site, I had thought it was mounding and didn't know it would spread. Very pleased with it.

On Mar 21, 2011, phase2682 from Roseville, CA (Zone 8b) wrote:

The good thing about T. pallida is that it is hard to kill, the bad thing is it is hard to kill. A great plant in the right spot. It provides a great contrast color for me in a planter that tends to stay wet due to poor drainage. The cement sidewalk along the planter edge has kept it in check as well as the winter freeze back. Every spring I prune it back to the ground and it responds with beautiful new growth.

On Sep 13, 2010, Susan_Chicago from Chicago, IL wrote:

First saw these plants as spectacular, almost unbelievably dense and beautiful ground covers along the perimeters of the old airport in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico in 1968. (That is also when many windmills could be seen there.) It took me years to track down what I'd seen, but finally I located a plant in a greenhouse ... about 1974 or '75. Have taken cuttings from it ever since and LOVE this original plant, which I treat as a venerable friend. My Purple Heart plants come inside for Chicago winters, in pots, and dry back to almost nothing with minimal watering and low sunlight on indoor windowsills. Then, wham-o, the plants reemerge and thrive every summer on my deck, complete with those lovely pink flowers. I've had pots or hanging baskets indoors and outdoors for many, many years and have g... read moreiven away more plants and cuttings than I can count. All it takes to start a new stalk is to poke a pencil into the soil and then slip a cutting (or break-off) into the tunnel. I have no idea about the "invasive" qualities some people here complain about: My experiences have been all good. Long live the Purple Heart/Purple Queen!!

On May 24, 2010, elliotsdottir from Belmont, MA (Zone 6b) wrote:

This is an incredibly invasive, unremovable weed! It has popped up repeatedly in big clumps hundreds of feet from where it first appeared, withstands any amount of abuse and now my neighbors have it. It seems especially bad this year after a record rainfall in March/April. If anyone knows how to get rid of it, I'd appreciate an answer. Location: Belmont, Mass. zone 6b.

On May 1, 2010, lupus55 from Adelaide,
Australia wrote:

It grows well in Adelaide (The Capital city of South Australia).

On Feb 28, 2010, ladybug_pc from Adairsville, GA (Zone 7b) wrote:

I have not found this plant to be invasive in my area. I use it as a border around the front of my flower beds. It fills in nicely each summer and dies back to the ground in winter. It has not popped up anywhere else in my flower bed. My husband likes the fact that he can just run the lawnmower right up against the edge of the plant when he mows and it doesn't seem to mind. I have not tried to remove this plant, so I don't know how difficult that would be.

On Apr 25, 2009, GardenQuilts from Easton, PA (Zone 6b) wrote:

This plant is great for summer hanging baskets/winter houseplants in northern regions. It is a bright purple outside, but fades to green and purple inside. It is very easy to increase by cuttings. I bring it inside with my other temperate plants in cool weather. It looks nice companion planted with taller plants.

On Feb 16, 2009, HollyErin from Memphis, TN wrote:

This plant is the best trading plant ever. My neighbor has a large plot of purple heart growing in her yard...that plot has provided 4 other houses all the purple heart we can stand.

I have it planted all around a large river birch tree in the front yard, along with some small azelas. It grows fast, blooms constantly and gives the baby wrens and starlings a place to "hide" in my yard.

I am hoping that it will come back with a vengence this year, and every year from now on. I adore this plant - the perfect amount of purple in the middle of a green yard!

On Apr 16, 2008, cactusman102 from Lawrence, KS wrote:

All three plantsoverwintered a brutal winter in Lawrence, KS (zone 6A) The plants were mulched about 4" and planted along a hot south facing wall.

On Dec 17, 2007, apple20 from Jeffersonville, IN wrote:

I found this plant growing in front of an empty home in Tucson, so I got a piece of it and brought it home. Some 15 or so years later, both the plant and I have moved to Indiana. It stays outdoors until first frost when I bring it in to my grooming shop. It stays in the back room with little water and indirect light until spring. I have given this plant to at least 20 customers and I've even seen it in a few nurseries in the last 2 years. You can't kill this stuff! I love it. I have broken a piece off when moving the pot only to find the broken piece had rooted itself where it lay on the ground. I've not tried planting it in the ground. Afraid our cold winters would kill it. Glad it finally has a name! I never knew what to call it.

On Nov 4, 2007, DeeSpyker from New Market, MD (Zone 6a) wrote:

I love this beautiful plant. It blooms pretty dainty flowers but is so pretty and showy on it's own with purple stems and leaves. My daughter bought a new house and the previous owners had this out back in a pot. I took a clipping to see if I could get it to grow. We thought the potted plants were being sold with the house but much to our dismay, they took them all. So my clipping is the last of the bunch. I'm hoping to create several potted plants with it and give them back to my daughter. I have the clipping rooting in a clear purple vase (how appropriate!) that I had sitting around (please see pics). It started to root almost overnight. We live in Northern Maryland and have no idea how this plant will weather. I'll let you know. Wish me luck!

On Sep 20, 2007, Kittylover from Carrollton, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

Purple Heart, Purple Queen, Wandering Jew 'Purewell Giant' Tradescantia pallida is the upright deep purple purple heart - beautiful mounding plant- will spread from a small plant to a big bush - I tried some of this variety of purple heart- It did not compare - more of a weed -stems laying on top of one another in a tangled mess and the color is more a muted burgundy - no wonder there are so many mixed reviews on purple heart

On Jun 10, 2007, rjones8194 from Independence, LA (Zone 8b) wrote:

This plant will survive under the worst conditions imaginable. I had one pot of it and tossed it out on the back part of my property (on dry, packed bare ground) last year and the thing is still holding on. We were in the middle of a severe drought at the time. Going to go get rid of it tomorrow. I didn't know it would take over. It's used as a landscaping plant in my area.

On Feb 24, 2007, beerhog from Paris, AR (Zone 7a) wrote:

It dies to the ground here but comes back every year. Have not had many problems with it. Several times during the season, I just rip it out and it comes roaring back. Can not beat it for the purple color.

On Jan 1, 2007, 1cros3nails4gvn from Bluffton, SC (Zone 9a) wrote:

adds intersesting color in the winter here, at least most of the winter. sometimes it dies back, but it hasnt this year

On Nov 29, 2006, bloomheaven from Southern,
United States wrote:

I agree with the other comments of this plant being highly invasive. My grandmother put it in all of her flower beds and it has just grown like wildfire. I think she found it easy to root so she put it everywhere, I have yet to get it all out. It breaks easily at the joints when pulling it making it almost impossible to get to the bottom of it.

On Jul 24, 2006, edreaadams from Lucerne Valley, CA (Zone 9a) wrote:

Would have given it a positive experience, but since moving to the desert, with very very cold winters, I've had to keep this beautiful plant in a pot and bring inside every year. I would like to eventually try a mass planting outdoors underneath my eucalyptus tree.

Very easy to grow, and if a piece breaks off, just stick it in the ground and it will continue growing. In the extreme heat under the sun, the purple leaves will grow thicker and shorter, and have sort of a purple shimmer on them. Just beautiful!

On Jun 26, 2006, WillowWasp from Jones Creek, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:

I use this plant as a filler in the garden and inside. It will do well inside and out and I have used it in centerpeices for the table. It is an all around beauty and is sooo useful.

On May 18, 2006, NiGHTS from Los Gatos, CA wrote:

This is by far one of my favorite plants. The purple color is amazing. I have found that if you take clippings and leave them in water for a few weeks, the leaves sometimes actually turn from purple to green! Once planted, the new leaves will gradually get back to purple over time. It's impressive to have one with leaves of both colors simultaneously.

Purple Heart is ideal for containers, or as a houseplant. Propegation by clippings is extremely easy. From my original plant, I now have countless more, and that's only from the shoots that I accidentally break off. If I wanted to take clippings, I could populate the entire neighborhood with this beauty.

Really, my only complaint with this plant is that the stems are fragile and break quite easily; so don'... read moret expect to be able to train it up a trellis or even a stake.

On Apr 22, 2006, FlipTX from Pasadena, TX wrote:

I can't imagine a more carefree plant. About fifteen years ago, a friend found a broken piece outside a restaurant, took it home, planted it, and it took off. A few years later, she gave me a piece and I stuck it into a shady spot outside my front door, along with Elephant's Ears and some big rocks to border it all. In twelve years, I've perhaps fertilized this spot six times and watered it bimonthly during the warmer months. Some years it dies back quite a bit but always comes back in Spring.

On Apr 21, 2006, elorasmom from Princeton, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

I absolutely LOVE this plant!! You can rustle it by breaking off a small piece of an actively growing plant and just sticking it in the ground. How easy is that??!! No hormone, root starter, etc.

Looks so pretty under a palm tree!!

Yes, it does die down to the ground in our cold weather (zone 8a) but it comes back in the spring. It is a little slow coming up so be patient!!

On Mar 22, 2006, nessiegirl from novi, MI (Zone 6a) wrote:

In zone 6a I have this as a house plant in a hanging basket. I love it. It roots easily. Although it has indeed gotten very leggy (i probably need to repot).
But even so it still throws flowers every year all summer long.
After reading this I am going to try planting some outside and see what happens. (with the global warming and such it will prob do fine. sigh.)
Ness;-)

On Feb 24, 2006, greenthumbelina from Casselberry, FL wrote:

I absolutely LOVE this plant. This grows wonderfully around the mature trees in my front yard, creating beautiful color when all else had failed. Easy to grow and nicely fills in bare spots with it's bright purple color. Since it also grows well in water, I like to cut pieces and place in vases indoors. A+

On Nov 24, 2005, CaptainMidnight from Austin, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

When all else would fail in the poor soil and full shade under my oak, this plant took root and still produced those lovely little flowers. It is prolific, but I wouldn't consider it invasive. Relatively easy to control, hard to kill. In fact it seems to thrive on neglect. Provides good contrast with the aloe nearby. I liked the point someone made about it being a good "kid's starter plant". I haven't tried that, but it makes perfect sense.

On Aug 11, 2005, Rhinoky from Louisville, KY wrote:

I have had this wonderful plant growing outside for the last two years in Louisville KY. 70% of it dies back to the ground but its has come back in the spring. Only winter protection is covering the plants with a clear plastic drop cloth elevated above the plants.

On Jun 3, 2005, nathalyn from Knoxville, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:

I planted this last summer thinking that it would be an annual in my zone. It was grown in full sun, with no mulching during the winter months. However, it has returned and is very robust.

On Apr 29, 2005, bayouposte from Bossier City, LA (Zone 8a) wrote:

Last year I saw a huge mound of this planted with 'Margarita' sweet potato vine, and the combination was stunning. I've since planted with Creeping Jenny and hope it will give a similar appearance. Will also combine with the sweet potato vine this year... the chartreuse and purple makes such a fun statement.

On Aug 1, 2004, deborahgrand from Baton Rouge, LA wrote:

Excellent grower in Louisiana. It survives EVERYTHING and spreads well

On Jul 5, 2004, chula from Portland, OR wrote:

In the north of Mexico this plant is called "pollo morado" or "purple chicken". This wonderful herb is very adept at curing the cankersores caused by the various herpes viruses. A tea made from its leaves can be used to gargle, and the placement of lightly boiled leaves directly on a cankersore is also very effective. Several applications are required throughout the day but the results are very swift (2 days).

On May 25, 2004, Kelli from L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) wrote:

This is a pretty trouble-free plant. I can see how it could be invasive but mine are in a location where they won't get far. It can also be grown as a hanging basket plant but should be trimmed back once or twice a year when they get leggy.

On May 9, 2004, tillandsia from Merritt Island, FL wrote:

I grew up with this hardy plant on the coast of Central Florida. It is a wonderful ground cover that will tolerate salt in the air and poor soil. If left to itself it will follow the contour of the area in which it is growing and looks great in drifts and mounds. It is an excellent contrasting plant for shrubs with purple, pink or burgundy flowers and lends itself well to planters, also. Control is the operative word here as with any ground cover but one must also remember, "right plant for the right place." So plan well when using it.

On Apr 13, 2004, Lanan from Hawkinsville, GA (Zone 8b) wrote:

LOVE IT! I have rooted many cuttings by just sticking them in the ground. This plant grows fast in areas I can get nothing else to grow in. Looks lovely in a hanging basket also! Will grow anywhere!

On Oct 10, 2003, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

For 18 years I have found it impossible to dig this plant up from amongst my other plants. I have not been able to kill it with pesticides. My dogs' urine - which seems to kill everthing else - just sets it back for awhile.

Its roots grow deep. When attempting to dig it up, the stems break so easily that there are tiny pieces left in the ground which sprout and grow right back. It is a beautiful plant if it is growing where it can not take over other plantings. My mistake was planting it in the ground.

On Aug 17, 2003, xyris from Sebring, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

Mostly a comment on my statement that it has been hardy for me the last two winters outdoors in Bremerton, Washington ... at 48 degrees north! It dies back to the ground there in winter, but sends up new shoots when it finally warms up in spring. If we were to get a colder winter than the last two, the roots may freeze and the plant would likely die. I overwinter it both in pots under my deck and in the ground, with the pots doing a bit better.

Oh, it is very successful, but easy to control, in my other garden, in Sebring, Florida.

On May 28, 2003, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil (Zone 11) wrote:

This is VERY invasive. I have nightmares keeping this plant on its own pot, but it´s hard to hold it. Good for coverages, but takes the space from surrounding plants

On Apr 20, 2003, Stonebec from Fort Worth, TX (Zone 7b) wrote:

This is a great plant. Works well in water, in the ground or in hanging baskets. Good space filler. Little pink flowers on stem ends are pretty with the contrast to dark purple. My son had some accidentally broken off a hanging basket and it rooted in the ground underneath the basket! Good to start kids off with because it is pretty, so easy, already growing, and almost impossible to kill. Not winter hardy but comes back shortly after last frost. Drought tolerant and looks striking against light colored bushes or foliage. It can get leggy if not allowed to sprawl.

On Aug 31, 2002, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:

Easy to grow - started with cuttings which easily rooted in water (they did take a while, but they didn't rot despite the amount of time) and once potted up, they did great, even when neglected and not watered. Makes a nice groundcover under trees where the soil is pretty dry.

On Jun 2, 2002, Catwoman wrote:

This plant is also known as Wandering Jew. It lasts forever too, in the right conditions. Over 30 years ago, my grandfather planted one in the yard that I eventually grew up with. It's still there.