Plant · GBIF taxon 2765221
Purple Heart
Tradescantia pallidaAlso known as Purple Queen, Purple Secretia, Purple Spiderwort
Vibrant, deep violet leaves and succulent trailing stems make this eastern Mexican native a standout groundcover and houseplant. Tiny three-petaled pink flowers bloom from the leaf tips, opening in the morning and closing by early afternoon. Highly resilient, it roots rapidly from node cuttings and relies on intense sunlight to maintain its rich purple coloration.
Purple FoliageGroundcoverPerennial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Snails
- Slugs
- Spider mites
ThreatsFreezing temperatures, prolonged drought, sap-sucking insects
HabitatsCoastal scrub, forest borders, urban gardens, disturbed ground
Life spanPerennial (5 to 10+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCommelinaceae
- SpeciesTradescantia pallida
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Sap can cause mild skin irritation and is toxic to dogs and cats if ingested; handle with gloves.
- Why it is dangerous
- Clear stem sap contains calcium oxalate crystals that trigger localized skin rash and digestive upset in pets.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for brittle, deep purple succulent stems that release watery liquid when cut or snapped.
- What to do
- Wear protective gardening gloves when cutting stems, and keep indoor potted plants out of reach of pets.
Responsible observation
- Foliage Care: Place in full sun to encourage deep violet leaf color, as low light turns foliage green.
- Safe Trimming: Wear gloves while pruning, as broken stems release irritating liquid.
- Simple Propagation: Cut stem segments just below a node and root them easily in moist soil or water.
Close Relative (c) Saryu Mae 前 朝琉, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Saryu Mae 前 朝琉 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Ricard Busquets Reverte, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ricard Busquets Reverte · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Parker Hopkins · cc0
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