Question
Hello.  I need help I.D.ing a houseplant.  When I bought it last year, it had 3 nice stalks, the leaves are kinda fuzzy and are a pale green on one side and lavender on the other.  Two weeks ago I repotted to a larger pot and got 4 new little stalks at the bottom.  It's in an East-facing window.  I cut back to watering every other week; when I was watering every week, the bottom leaves would yellow.  One of my friends thinks it's a Wandering Jew, but it's not viney and the leaves a longer, and grow out of a stalk.  My other thinks it's a Rhoeo, but it isn't as vividly colored or compact as the Rhoeo pics on the Internet.

Answer
Millie,

I believe that your plant may be a Purple Passion Plant (Gynura aurantiaca). At the following site are some pictures and a discussion of the plant by some owners: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2570/

This plant has 2 forms of growth, one that is short and bushy like you have and another that is long and viny. I have not grown this plant and I do not know what causes the viny growth.

If this is not your plant I need you to e-mail a digital picture with your request. You can either send it through All experts or you can send it to me at [email protected]

If your plant is a Purple Passion and you have more questions feel free to write again and I will find the answers for you.  Good luck.

Darlene