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

On Feb 6, 2020, Arurye from Oviedo, FL wrote:

Hi
For those of you who had an allergic reaction to this plant - can you share with me more about your symptoms - I want to see if further testing might be required with this plant or ruling this out as the cause of an ongoing skin reaction I have been suffering from.

Thanks

On May 3, 2018, cwss from San Antonio, TX wrote:

Although it made a good filler plant along my fence in shade, mosquitoes love to breed under this plant in the shade. I am slowly removing most of it.

On Jul 16, 2016, Sunflower1888 from Manassas, VA wrote:

I was on a walk through a neighborhood in South Carolina while vacationing. One of the residents had thinned their Purple Heart and had the cuttings at the curb. I grabbed two stems from the castoffs. The cuttings stayed in a glass of water until we travelled home. For the ride home they were wrapped in damp paper towel and aluminim foil. They survived the trip, have rooted in water and this morning I potted them. They have been happily blooming while rooting and have put out new growth, too. I am looking forward to having them in the landscape!! I will leave them potted to let them get established, winter them indoors and set them out next spring. I am only guessing that they wont become too invasive here ( zone 7a ) as they should die back in the winter.

On Sep 13, 2015, siege2055 from Stilwell, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

This is hardy here in zone 7a, and has for the last four years came back. While digging in the same area after winter to plant something else, I would find little rooted stem sections below the surface from the previous year, with maybe one or two nodes that did not freeze, and from these they will grow again. I also had success overwintering this before I knew it would survive here, by putting large un rooted stem cuttings in a paper bag, and placing in the crawlspace of my house till spring, then re rooting them.

On Jul 17, 2014, JerusalemCherry from Dunellen, NJ (Zone 6b) wrote:

Great as a annual landscape plant in NJ, turns very purple in full sun. Also, they have a new variety called "Ocampo White". Same as the purple one except it's green with only light purple accents. Looks awesome next to the standard purple Wandering Jew.

On Jun 21, 2013, alclubb from Flower Mound, TX wrote:

I have had this plant in all of my yards for over 40 years. I would not call it invasive. I've had dwarf bamboo and mint that are invasive. This lovely plant spreads easily, but can be kept under control. It breaks very easily and that is all that is necessary. I am currently rooting it in different places in my shade garden, but it really prefers more sun. However, it makes a fantastic contrast with lime green or silvery plants. Try it with Japanese Painted Ferns. It is stunning mixed with moneywort also. I love this plant and probably will never have a garden that doesn't have it somewhere. It is maintenance free.

On Jul 2, 2012, cball from Garland, TX wrote:

I love the beautiful color of this plant and it is very easy to grow and propagate. I have shared with all my neighbors. I admit that I did go overboard in planting it. I decided to get rid of it in one area and could not dig it up in my clay soil. Spraying it also did not work. I was successful in getting rid of it in the one area by breaking it off at ground level every few days. It could not photo synthesize andwith no light, ran out of energy. This is the best way to get rid of it in an area where you don't want it. I suppose covering it with black plastic would also work. Almost everyone in the neighborhood has it now thanks to me. It is so eye catching! Love it!

On Apr 5, 2012, tracyb433 from Winter Haven, FL wrote:

I'm gonna give it a neutral cause you can't blame the plant for being a survivor. I have had it in the past and it does spread like wildfire where ever it lands. Doesn't need attention and I have had neighbors knock on the door wanting some. It does great in hot sun, where it gets it most vrbrant color, and drought tolerant here in central Florida. Have stayed away from it for over 25 years, but mother recently past and I found a piece growing in some dirt from another plant I took from mom's. Now the problem, do I keep it knowing it has a wild side? It is just a 8 inch stem at this point and I put it in a hanging basket, but I also know if the stems break off it will root where it lands. Hate throwing perfectly good plants away...

On Jun 23, 2011, nhhsgal from Glennville, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

This plant was one that had apparently died off during a series of major changes in my husband's household. I had no idea what it was, but transplanted it into a larger pot just to see what would happen since I do not have a green thumb. I actually planted it into 2 pots, which remained outdoors from the time of transplantation late last fall. We were pleasantly surprised to see them poking through the soil in the pots this spring. They seem to be quite healthy, with a nice medium-dark purple color and the tiny pink flowers that show up each morning.

I found this site while doing some research on the plants to help decide where to move the pots to. My sister-in-law is a Master Gardener, who was able to identify the plants just from my description of them, and gave me th... read moree name. I have learned a lot about the plant from reading the many postings here, and hope to be able to help others looking for information on it.

I cautioned my husband that if he breaks off any stems as he passes by the plants, he should stick them back into the soil in the pot so that it doesn't just take root where it drops. I look forward to expanding these plants and finding potential new locations for it around the house and yard.

On Mar 23, 2011, luis_pr from Hurst, TX (Zone 7b) wrote:

Good for areas where it can grow and grow and basically take over everything. Not recommended though; too invasive in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. Will crowd out small shrubs nearby.

On Mar 21, 2011, Omoloya from Hamilton Township, NJ (Zone 7a) wrote:

I have an indoor plant that looks like this plant, but its leaves are furry... is it another variety of tradescantia?

On May 24, 2010, the_naturalist from Monrovia, CA wrote:

Tough and beautiful, just cover part of a stem with an attached leaf node with dirt and it will root--keep it moist til it is strong if you want faster growth. Easy to keep under control, too--no shears needed, just break it apart by hand. Very drought-resistant, no pests, any light. Only way to kill it is to dig up the fat, fleshy roots.

On May 24, 2010, jazzy1okc from Oklahoma City, OK wrote:

Although when I bought it I was told this plantcould only be grown as a houseplant here, it is now scattered all about my zone 7 garden and has been reliably returning for about seven years. I worried it would not survive our recent cold, wet, and icy winter, but it has. I love its dark purple trailing habit and the way its color and texture spark the texture and color of plants with magenta, pink, yellow, light green, white and even silver foliage or blooms. It grows well and looks great with Mediterranean herbs, cone flowers, yarrow, ornamental grasses, sedum, and ice plant in full sun "hot" beds. Here, any plant that thrives in clay loam, extreme heat, high winds, hail, as well as the radiated heat from brick and cement, is a miracle worker! It does put down deep roots, but where I... read more don't want it, I simply dig it up.

On Apr 18, 2010, bridgeinclover from Clover, SC wrote:

I planted these last spring and they were gorgeous! The area I planted in gets only morning sun and they still did great. The died off in the winter. I am wondering when (or IF) they will bounce back. No sign of them yet and it's already mid April! :(

On Jul 26, 2009, PKayW from Pearl Beach,
Australia wrote:

This plant is incredibly invasive: nearly as bad as a cultivar as its relative Tradescantia fluminensis, a declared weed, which smothers all other ground plants. Why not try the Australian blue Wandering Jew, Commelina cyanea, a native Australian plant, common from Victoria to Queensland, instead?

On Apr 4, 2009, flchick13 from Sarasota, FL wrote:

We have just planted Purple Queens across our front yard as a ground covering. The yard does not get much sun and is in partial to full shade all day. We placed them about 2 feet apart per the instructions from the staff at the nursery where we bought them. Does anyone know about how long it will take for the plants to spread out into the surrounding empty space if they are all about 2 feet apart now?

On Aug 27, 2008, Sandcruiser from Playa Tamarindo,
Costa Rica wrote:

grows well in pots or in the ground. Tolerates full Costa Rica sun and does ok in shadier areas as well (some direct sun). Easy to propagate, great for filling border areas. Good color contrast during the wet season when flowers aren't as common in the garden.

On Dec 18, 2007, mommie from Weslaco, TX (Zone 9b) wrote:

This plant is very beautiful & versatile. I just love it!! I have it growing on the West side of my house & on the North side. I do believe it will grow well anywhere If precautions are taken in cold areas. I grow it in the ground in clay soil & it thrives.It looks especially nice growing in a ring around a large tree. It is lovely in a hanging basket. It grows like a weed,so be diligent. Prune often if you don't want a yard full of it. When you look at those dark purple leaves & the lovely pink blossoms you know how wonderful Mother Nature is.

On Dec 14, 2007, gray_53 from Mcdonough, GA wrote:

It can be invasive, but no plant can take over any area unless you neglect said plant for at least a month or two. I have seen masses of it that look good, but my neighbor's is rather scraggly. I only have one pot of it, and it survives the winter, though the foliage dies and comes back every year. The occasional flowers are sooooo beautiful!! Anyone can grow this plant in virtually any condition if they water it once a month. I am pretty sure that sun keeps the leaves purple.

On Oct 14, 2007, Perenniallady from Otterville, ON (Zone 5b) wrote:

I like this perennial even though it likes to spread.It is quite beautiful when it grows in a clump and along a fence.

On Jun 27, 2007, Dedda from Petersburg, VA (Zone 7a) wrote:

Invasive like a nosy neighbor. Bought house 4 yrs. ago, it was all over the flower bed, took me weeks to pull and dig out. so I thought.. it keeps coming back, like door to door sales people,like horor movie sequels, like grab grass. should be called Purple Pestia

On Apr 3, 2007, ga_peach from Jefferson, GA (Zone 7b) wrote:

I live in Jefferson, GA (pretty far NE near SC) and I love it. I planted it last year thinking it would only be an annual here. I almost killed it 3 times in my attempt to learn to garden. I moved it 3 times. It look the beating and this year is coming back beautifully. I love the "electric purple" color. I haven't found it invasive so far but that may be because I seem to be at the cusp of its survival zones. Also, kind of tropical looking to me.

On Jan 28, 2007, ansonfan from Polkton, NC (Zone 7b) wrote:

I have this plant growing at an east facing wall and it does well here and keeps its purple color with just the morning sun; dies back in winter but comes back in spring. I cut several branches off before the freeze gets it and bring it inside. I put them in a large vase and they bloom all the way through the holidays. The blooms are beautiful up close.

On Dec 28, 2006, brimcgin from Stockton, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:

Overall a great plant. Easy to grow but as others have said can be invasive. Leave them in containers. I was told it is also called Moses in a cradle.

On Sep 10, 2006, tengum from De Pere, WI wrote:

I bought a pre-planted hanging basket from our local nursery and the purple heart was the center plant. The rest of the plants died, but I pulled the basket in th house for the winter and though "what the heck" I'll see if it'll grow in the house over the winter, and it did!! Now, it's growing like crazy, long, long vines, and I want to cut it and put it in some additional pots. So, now I just need to figure out where exactly to cut it and what to do next (put it in water to root, put it directly in another pot, etc) so I can move it over to new pots. I know everyone is claiming that it's so 'easy', but I do NOT have a green thumb, so I'm a little scared. Hopefully I'll be able to find some tips (with pictures) on how to do it.

On Jun 28, 2006, lizbob33908 from Fort Myers, FL (Zone 10a) wrote:

This plant is awesome if you want something to just take hold and grow, cover, fill an area, etc. Not good if you try xeriscaping with it. I have new buds popping up on the other side of my house and in the grass. How it got there? Don't know. It's difficult to keep up with, especially in the rainy season. Make sure you pick up every little piece of clipping and throw in a container because I think that's how it started in the grass!

On May 27, 2006, DonnaA2Z from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 9a) wrote:

This is a very hardy plant. Will grow and grow and grow. However, it will easily take over areas and grow out of hand. Getting rid of it in an area can be difficult as you have to clean out all of the roots... and there are a lot.

I grew it as ground cover, but it quickly grew to be 24" high easy. Needs little if any care at all.

Consider growing it in containers unless you want areas dedicated to this plant.

On Apr 24, 2006, appaloosa from Elgin, TX wrote:

For those that are having trouble getting rid of this stuff because it's taking over, my only suggestion is to get out the tiller (and I mean the big one)!

On Apr 21, 2006, henryr10 from Cincinnati, OH (Zone 6b) wrote:

I have to agree w/ dgarza.
Mine popped back up yesterday here in Cincinnati.
This is the second year running w/ no extra care or mulching.
The Zone rating is too high to my mind.

On Apr 14, 2006, dgarza from Cincinnati, OH wrote:

This keeps coming back in zone 6a, usually late May or June.

On Mar 1, 2006, tajataja from Hull,Ga, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

I have this plant under my trees, and it grows like a weed!
Thought I lost them with the last frost of the season, all the leaves were black! But its back, just can't kill them.
I love the colors and the little flowers..And of course soooo easy to grow.

On Dec 11, 2005, CastIronPlant22 from Lompoc, CA (Zone 10a) wrote:

I love this plant. It is planted outside, in full sun, and in the winter it gets about 28 degrees and this hasn't froze. In the summer its always like a little bush and never seems to trail out. It gets BIG leaves after about a year planted in the ground and the color just draws your eye. I love this plant!

On Oct 29, 2005, BayAreaTropics from Hayward, CA wrote:

Some purple hearts are much more purple than others. And i believe they are the same plant.The best glow purple!....bait for slugs/snails since this plant is a slug/snail delicacy.

On Jun 4, 2005, cissyb from Woodbine, GA (Zone 8b) wrote:

I've found this plant extremely easy to grow. I didn't know it could be rooted in water but will give it a try. I have it planted around an above ground pond in semi shade and it's growing in leaps and bounds, flowering like crazy and keeping that beautiful dark purple color. It dies back during the winter here in SE Georgia but continues to come back year after year.

On May 6, 2005, Cesca_B from Henderson, KY wrote:

I'm not sure why, as my area is Very Zone 6, however, I had these guys (called perennial when I picked them up) come back this year. They were covered in mulch, certainly, but if they're only hardy to zone 8, I have super Purple Hearts....

On Dec 2, 2004, vossner from East Texas,
United States (Zone 8a) wrote:

I think it serves a purpose as "filler" for difficult places or for those interested in low maintenance plants. I would describe it as invasive, thank goodness I have it in pots. Constantly pulling the excess growth, I finally learned to put them in pots and pass them on at plant swaps. Curious how there's ALWAYS somebody wanting this stuff...

On Jul 23, 2004, searels from Chatsworth, GA wrote:

I love this plant, first seen around someones mailbox, and had to have some myself. Now that I have it, I wasn't sure what to do to take cuttings and replant in other areas. Now that I have joined this site, I find that it's very simple! Thanks so much for the tips and this great site! I now know what I can plant on a very steep hillside in which I have tried several plants, which died almost as soon as I put them in the ground. I have notice that the ones I've seen in this area, during winter, most cover it with pine needle mulch. This should keep the roots from freezing I guess.

On Jun 12, 2004, thymeagain from Oklahoma City, OK wrote:

I traveled with this from CA to OK as a houseplant. I have planted it outside as a border and it is doing quite well so far. Was interested to find out that it will come back from the root next spring if I do not take cuttings inside this fall. By the way, I have known this plant by the name "Moses in the Basket". This name is probably due to the small pink blooms in the notch of the leaves.

On May 23, 2004, jessburt from Victoria, TX wrote:

I have inherited this plant when I bought our house and I can't plant anything in my flower beds because it has taken over. I am trying to eradicate it from my flower bed, but have had no luck. Please let me know how to successfully remove it.

On Apr 14, 2004, Maudie from Harvest, AL wrote:

I like these plants because they are so easily grown and carefree.
They come back every year and the vivid color purple is a lovely
contrast to variegated plants.
They are useful as a groundcover
to provide color to an area in contrast to green or variegated plants as well. I do not consider these plants invasive--
just useful and pretty.

On Oct 11, 2003, aking1a from Baton Rouge, LA (Zone 8b) wrote:

As with all good groundcovers, this plant spreads quickly. It adds a great deal of color under, and at the base of large trees, where little else will grow. It also does very well on steep slopes in rather unfertile soil. In 8b, it does die off somewhat in winter but bounces back quickly in spring. Invasive? Yes - but that's what you want groundcovers to do. I have it in deep shade, part shade and sun. It does well in all of them.

On Sep 7, 2003, outdoorlover from Enid, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

I first grew it in Austin, Texas (zone 8) and then I moved to northern Oklahoma (zone 6)and transplanted it up here; unfortunately, I transplanted it in too many locations in our yard. It dies back after the first freeze and then begins coming up around May. It is very invasive and I would not plant it near any other plants, and only if not much else will grow there. It will grow in west sun or full shade. It does not need extra water and it can even root iself from discarded prunings. The folage on my purple hearts is green instead of maroon, and very beautiful, as well as are the flowers. I have also tried to get rid of it in some areas of our yard. We have tried Roundup, a poison ivy killer, and digging it up, but nothing has worked yet. I wonder if putting black plastic over i... read moret would work??? That might be my next angle of attack. Unfortunately, it has grown up around other plants I want to keep, and there is a race to see which plant wins out.

On Jun 6, 2003, GBlankenship from Florence, SC (Zone 8a) wrote:

When looking for the "out-of-the-ordinary" ground cover, this plant seemed a likely candidate. Our garden soil has been well tilled, rich in organic matter, and watered regularly. Purple Queen, as shown in my photo, emerges in early spring from dormant root stock, to immediately begin flowering in late spring. Propagation involves rhizome "runners" branching out from the established rootings. Creating successful generations from cuttings and seeding is unknown by this gardner, but propagation from rhizome extensions appears to work quite well.

If well-watered, it can stand a bit more sun, but its hardiness for drought must include more shade than sun.

On May 28, 2003, jlirola from Columbia, SC wrote:

I am successfully growing it in a damp, shady garden with hostas and elephant ears. I love the purple contrast to the chartruse hostas. I am taking some cuttings to keep plenty of it around and add it to my hanging baskets. I have also put this in a very dry, clay based garden that is also mostly shade in front of my office (just a few blocks away) and it is doing very well!

On Sep 17, 2002, sarahjones wrote:

I love this plant. Cuttings put in a vase of water look lovely almost up until the time they root. Nothing could be easier to grow. During winter, I do multiple cuttings and put them in anything that will hold water. They produce long, gentle roots. When spring comes, simply dig them in.
They produce long 'stems' that are a rich purple color. The flowers are almost incidental.

Best done in masses, i.e., not a single, specimen plant.
I put rooted cuttings under a tree, where they were the delight of the neighborhood. Also in a large outdoor pot, where they ran out of room and started growing up the trunk of the potted tree.

I've never seen bugs or any kind of viral problem at all. Best decribed as a trailing, spreading, ground cover, they will... read more out-distance vinca minor or ivy any day, in terms of growth. Give them room to spread. Space about 5-6" apart.

On Aug 31, 2002, Wingnut from Spicewood, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

This is a close relative to Purple Heart, the more familiar Setcreasea. This one doesn't get anywhere near as purple as Purple Heart.

In my zone 8b garden, this will freeze to the ground, but come back from the roots the next year. It's in a rather sheltered spot.

I love the way it fills in bare spots quickly and roots so easily!

On Aug 25, 2001, BotanyBob from Thousand Oaks, CA wrote:

In Southern California this plant does not overwinter so well in the cooler areas and does not bloom in the winters. If experiencing temps below freezing, most of the plant will 'melt', but usually recovers in the spring. Hard frosts will usually kill it.

It is incredibly easy to grow from a cutting, requiring little more than cutting off a piece and shoving it in the ground. Well draining soil is helpful. It is a very drought tolerant plant.