Tradescantia pallida

We initially became acquainted with this slowly-spreading groundcover of brilliant purple foliage in its hanging basket form. Finally, after we tried it in the ground, we appreciated it more as a wonderful groundcover that holds its color all summer and provides some incredible color combinations in the border. In late summer, it produces lax, upright stalks with small, starry mauve flowers. During 12 years of growing this outdoors, purple heart wandering Jew has been reliable for us to 0 degrees F.