Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart' 12cm Plants GrowTropicals
Purple Inch Plant

Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart'

£10.99
Hard to killSun-lover
Pot size
12cm £10.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

Complete the set up
Description

Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart' produces long, lance-shaped leaves in a rich, saturated violet-purple that intensifies in bright light. In summer, it produces small, three-petalled pink flowers at the stem tips. It is fast-growing, easy to propagate from cuttings, and remarkably tolerant of neglect.

One of the most vivid foliage colours you can grow indoors.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

Find out more

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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7 day live arrival guarantee
Delivered to your door with care
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How to care for Purple Inch Plant

I want real sun on my leaves and give me a drink when my upper soil has dried out.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
Get to know me

About Purple Inch Plant

Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart' is an easy-care houseplant. It needs bright direct light, watering once the top 2 to 3cm of compost has dried out, average household humidity and a minimum temperature of 10°C. Its sap can irritate skin and mouths, so keep it away from pets and small children.

Good for

Living Room Bedroom

Care level

EasyChallenge

Easy care

Light

ShadeFull sun

Bright, direct sun

This plant grows best in bright, indirect light or dappled shade. Keep it away from direct sun, which can scorch its delicate leaves. For healthy growth and vibrant foliage, place it near a north-facing or east-facing window where it will receive plenty of filtered light. Read moreShow less

This plant grows best in bright, indirect light or dappled shade. Keep it away from direct sun, which can scorch its delicate leaves. For healthy growth and vibrant foliage, place it near a north-facing or east-facing window where it will receive plenty of filtered light.

Learn more →

Watering

Evenly moistDries out fully

Let the top few centimetres dry out

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water your plant when the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the soil feels slightly dry, and always ensure the pot has good drainage. Avoid soggy soil or standing water, and do not let the plant dry out completely, as steady moisture is essential for healthy growth. Read moreShow less

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water your plant when the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the soil feels slightly dry, and always ensure the pot has good drainage. Avoid soggy soil or standing water, and do not let the plant dry out completely, as steady moisture is essential for healthy growth.

Humidity

Average homeHigh humidity

Happy at normal household humidity

This plant will tolerate normal household humidity, but performs best with slightly higher levels. Like all tropical plants, good humidity levels help support healthy growth and keep the foliage healthy. If you have a particularly dry home, grouping plants together can help to increase humidity. Read moreShow less

This plant will tolerate normal household humidity, but performs best with slightly higher levels. Like all tropical plants, good humidity levels help support healthy growth and keep the foliage healthy. If you have a particularly dry home, grouping plants together can help to increase humidity.

Learn more →

Temperature

Keep above 10°C · Happy at normal room temperature

This plant grows best in warm temperatures between 18°C and 26°C. Keep it away from cold draughts and avoid temperatures below 15°C, as cooler conditions can stress the plant and affect healthy growth. Read moreShow less

This plant grows best in warm temperatures between 18°C and 26°C. Keep it away from cold draughts and avoid temperatures below 15°C, as cooler conditions can stress the plant and affect healthy growth.

Feeding

Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.

Soil & Substrate

Our Simply Houseplant Tropical Potting Mix provides a well-draining, peat-free base.

Growth habit

Trailing →

Plant type

Foliage houseplant →

Toxicity

The sap can irritate skin and mouths. Wash your hands after handling and keep it away from pets and small children.

Origins

Native to eastern Mexico, Tradescantia pallida grows in dry, open habitats including rocky slopes and roadside verges, where it tolerates heat, drought, and direct sun.

Also known as

Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart'

Genus

Tradescantia →
More on caring for houseplants What does bright indirect light mean? Should I mist my houseplants?
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Meet the family

Everything about Tradescantia

Tradescantia, also known as inch plant or spiderwort, is a great low-maintainance houseplant for any living or office space. Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Tradescantia thrives in warm, humid environments where its vibrant ...

More about Tradescantia care
Tradescantia Care Guide
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

Verified reviews

Rated by real customers

Customers consistently praise this vibrant purple plant for arriving "bigger than expected" with "vivid colour" and "dense foliage." Shoppers highlight excellent packaging, fast delivery, and healthy condition upon arrival. Easy to care for and "ready to bring a smile every day." One customer noted minor leaf damage during transit.

  • The colours on this plant already look great. So far has been really easy to care for
  • Lovely thick furry leaves. Dense foliage and perfectly packed, so no damage.
  • Bigger than expected, healthy plant, secure packaging, fast delivery.
  • 5 stars: 25 (93%)
  • 4 stars: 2 (7%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
T
Tiki H.
Fabulous!

I received my first order just before Christmas and I can’t wait to order more! Plants arrived with their own little heat pack which was still warm when I opened them and each plant was well protected from travel. They are all seeming to settle in well and I love them

Tiki H. review photo
K
Karen S.
Purple heart

Lovely thick furry leaves. Dense foliage and perfectly packed, so no damage.

Karen S. review photo
L
Leo C.
Bigger!

I wasn't so sure about the price until I realized how densely packed it was!

Leo C. review photo
T
Tommy

Surprised at how big this was when it turned up. The colours on this plant already look great. Look forward to seeing how it turns out better over time. So far has been really easy to care for 💜

M
Monika

Absolutely anazing. Bigger than expected, healthy plant, secure packaging, fast delivery.

A
Anonymous (United Kingdom)
12cm

Arrived in good condition and has started growing.

Z
Zlatina Petrova (United Kingdom)
12cm

Came bigger than expected and in excellent condition 😊

L
Lynda Nester (United Kingdom)
12cm

Beautiful, full plant. Really vivid colour.

J
J.O.

Another healthy plant from a great supplier.

A
Amy

Leaves were a little damaged but otherwise okay

A
Andrina S.
A lovely Purple Plant

The plant arrived very well packed as always, on unpacking I could see that it was very healthy and purple.
It appears to be thriving, but it's good to receive such a healthy plant as a base to grow onwards and upwards.
I'll definitely be purchasing again from Grow Tropicals as prices are reasonable, packing is very good and sturdy, plants arrive in very good conditions and the plants themselves are great quality.

k
karen
plant babies

lovely with £5off 25 squid spend on potting etc

M
Mae

Very healthy plant and good size 🙂

M
Mae

Very healthy plant and good size :slightly_smiling:

A
April G.
Just as pictured

Beautiful plant, arrived well packed and looks just like the picture.

E
Emma H.
Beautiful and abundant

A lovely variation of purple with strong growth

S
Suzanne C.
Beautiful

LOVE :heart:️

M
Martyn

Looked very healthy and was packed well. Amazing colour

M
Martyn

Looked very healthy and was packed well. Amazing colour

J
Jess S.
Amazing

such a pretty type of tradescantia! So healthy & a lovely plant. Shipping was fast & safely wrapped up in the parcel. Thank you!

M
Michael C.
First order, impressed

Plants arrived as described, securely packaged, well watered and in good condition. Swift delivery as well. Will def order again

C
Claire T.
Purple Heart

Beautiful plant excellent condition and well packaged. I’m very pleased with the plant as I’ve been looking for one of these for a while

J
Jan C.
Beautiful colour. Looking forward to

Beautiful colour. Looking forward to seeing if it develops a trailing habit.

C
Carwyn

This is a plant shop where it is very clear that the staff are plant people. The plants arrived in abuntant health and ready to bring a smile every day since. The prices are fair and the service is great. I'll be back!

C
Carwyn

This is a plant shop where it is very clear that the staff are plant people. The plants arrived in abuntant health and ready to bring a smile every day since. The prices are fair and the service is great. I'll be back!

M
Ms

Pretty

j
j.c.

Pretty

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Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart'
£10.99