Purple Heart

The Purple Heart, scientifically known as Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’, is a strikingly vibrant and exceptionally hardy evergreen perennial succulent, celebrated for its intense, deep purple foliage and trailing growth habit. This popular cultivar is a selection of Tradescantia pallida, which is native to the Gulf Coast region of eastern Mexico, particularly in coastal lowlands. It thrives in warm, subtropical climates, adapting remarkably well to full sun to partial shade and a variety of well-drained soils. In Phoenix, Arizona, Purple Heart is a ubiquitous and highly valued landscape plant, performing exceptionally well in the intense heat and sun, and often used for its bold color contrast. As a long-lived perennial in frost-free zones (typically USDA Zones 7-11, sometimes root hardy in Zone 6), it can easily persist for many years, often 10-20 years or more, forming dense, sprawling masses.

Its most distinctive characteristic is its thick, fleshy stems and elongated, lance-shaped leaves that are an extraordinary, uniform deep royal purple to reddish-purple color. The intensity of the purple hue deepens with more sunlight exposure; in shadier conditions, the foliage tends to be greener. The stems grow upright initially but quickly arch and trail, making it an excellent groundcover, border plant, or spiller in containers and hanging baskets. While primarily grown for its dramatic foliage, from spring through fall (and often year-round in very mild climates like Phoenix), mature plants produce small, three-petaled, pink to lavender-pink flowers that emerge from boat-shaped bracts in the leaf axils. These delicate blooms provide a subtle contrast to the bold foliage. The Purple Heart is exceptionally drought-tolerant once established, requiring minimal water, and is known for its rapid growth and resilience to heat. Its striking year-round color, ease of propagation (from stem cuttings), and minimal maintenance requirements make it an outstanding choice for xeriscaping, rock gardens, borders, containers, and as a vibrant, low-water addition to any sunny or partially shaded landscape.