Tradescantia pallida 'Variegata' (Purple Heart, Wandering Jew)

Plant Profile

Tradescantia pallida 'Variegata' is a stunning cultivar of Purple Heart (Purple Queen). It has succulent, lance-shaped leaves striped with pink, purple, cream, and green. The undersides are vivid purple. Trailing stems root at nodes. Small, pink, three-petaled flowers appear in summer. Grown for its spectacular foliage.

Key Characteristics

• Family: Commelinaceae (ko-mel-ih-NAY-see-ee)
• Genus: Tradescantia (trad-es-KAN-tee-uh)
• Species: pallida (PAL-lid-duh)
• Cultivar: 'Variegata'
• Synonym: Setcreasea pallida

Growing Conditions

Full sun to part shade (best color in sun), well-drained soil. Drought tolerant. Hardy in USDA zones 8–11; widely grown as annual or houseplant.

Landscape Uses

Containers, hanging baskets, groundcover in frost-free areas, mixed borders. Intense foliage color.

Maintenance

Pinch to encourage branching. Easy propagation from cuttings. Overwinter indoors in cold climates.