Tradescantia pallida is a tender evergreen perennial native to northeast Mexico (from Tamaulipas to Yucatan) grown as an ornamental for its striking purple foliage. This herbaceous plant in the Commelinaceae (spiderwort) family is a low-growing trailer that is hardy in zones 7-10, but is easily grown as an annual or houseplant in colder climates.
The rambling plants get about a foot high but can spread much wider. From midsummer through fall, and sporadically at other times, relatively inconspicuous pink or pale purple flowers with bright yellow stamens are produced at the ends of the stems. These ½” wide blooms have three petals typical of this genus.
