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Leaf Erickson is a Tradescantia pallida, commonly called Purple heart · Purple queen · Purple spiderwort.

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Timeline

  1. Trimmed and tidied this morning.

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About this plant

Common name Purple heart · Purple queen · Purple spiderwort
Scientific name Tradescantia pallida
Sun Full sun to partial shade; best color in sun
Water Drought-tolerant; water sparingly once established
Soil Well-draining, average to sandy soil
Nickname Leaf Erickson

Fun facts

  • In shade the purple foliage fades toward green, so growers place it in full sun for the richest color.
  • It was used in a 2015 University of Georgia study as a bioindicator plant to detect airborne mutagens and pollutants.
  • Stems snap easily but root just as easily, so broken pieces can simply be stuck back in the ground.
  • It dies back in frost but often resprouts from the roots in mild-winter regions.

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