Purple Heart (Tradescantia Pallida) or Wandering Jew/ Wandering Dude - A compact slowly spreading evergreen perennial to 10 inches tall by about 2 feet wide with succulent herbaceous purple stems bearing clasping elliptic leaves that are narrowed at the base and tip that are olive green suffused with purple on the upper surface and bright purple below with long sliver hairs along the leaf margins and stems. The interesting new leaves emerge in seemingly opposite pairs that are folded upwards to form fuzzy cup-like wings. In bright light one may see violet-pink flowers in summer but this plant is more for foliage and seems reluctant to bloom much. Plant in light shade or part sun and water regularly to only occasionally - as with many in the genus these plants are surprisingly drought resistant because of the water stored in the succulent stems. Cool Sun/Light Shade. Well-Drained soil. Summer. Pinkish White.
