Tradescantia pallida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tradescantia pallida |
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| Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea' | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tradescantia
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| Species: |
pallida
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| Synonyms | |
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Setcreasea pallida Rose |
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Tradescantia pallida is a type of plant known as a spiderwort. It's related to other spiderworts like T. fluminensis and T. zebrina. One popular kind, called T. pallida 'Purpurea', has cool names like purple secretia, purple-heart, or purple queen. This plant originally comes from the Gulf Coast area in eastern Mexico. A botanist named Edward Palmer first found a sample of it near Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas in 1907.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The scientific name pallida comes from Latin. It means "pale." This name describes the plant's color.
Plant Features and Looks
Tradescantia pallida is an evergreen perennial plant. This means it stays green all year. It also lives for more than two years. It grows in a scrambling way. Its leaves are long and pointed. They can be a dull green color. Sometimes, they have red or purple edges. The plant has small, three-petaled flowers. These flowers can be white, pink, or purple. If it gets too cold, the top part of the plant might die. But it often grows back from its roots.
Purple-Heart Variety
The special type called T. pallida 'Purpurea' is very popular. It has bright purple leaves. Its flowers are a pretty pink color.
Growing and Caring for the Plant
This plant is often grown in gardens. People use it to cover the ground. It also looks great in hanging baskets. In colder places, it's a popular houseplant. It's super easy to grow new plants. You can just cut a piece of the stem. Roots often grow from the stem's joints.
Cleaning the Air
As a houseplant, T. pallida is very helpful. It can make the air inside your home cleaner. It filters out harmful chemicals. These chemicals are called volatile organic compounds. They can bother your breathing. This plant helps clean the air naturally. This process is called phytoremediation.
Award-Winning Plant
Many different types of this plant exist. The 'Purpurea' type is very well-known. It has beautiful purple leaves. It even won an award. The Royal Horticultural Society gave it the Award of Garden Merit.
Gallery
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Leaves, superior aspect
(T. pallida 'Purpurea') -
Leaves, inferior aspect
(T. pallida 'Purpurea') -
Flower
(T. pallida 'Purpurea') -
Close-up shot of flower
(T. pallida 'Purpurea')
See also
In Spanish: Amor de hombre para niños
