Leaf Erickson is a Tradescantia pallida, commonly called Purple heart · Purple queen · Purple spiderwort.
Timeline
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Leaf Erickson Tradescantia pallida
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
Pet safety
No; sap may irritate skin and pets
Difficulty
Easy
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.
Photos
no owner photos yet — see how Leaf Erickson's species looks in the wild. see species photos →
Living wall
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