Attack of the purple heart monster

August 09, 2010


No, not purple-hearted monster. Attack of the purple heart monster, aka Tradescantia pallida. It’s taking over the exposed limestone in the lower garden, and if you were to brave the mosquitoes and walk back there, you’d have to pick your way through patches of purple heart. It might even swallow you up.
The first freeze will take care of this heat-loving monster ground cover, reducing it to a pile of mushy stems. Of course that first freeze is quite a ways off. Will any stone be visible by then, I wonder.

Averting our eyes, let’s admire the new ‘Alphonse Karr’ bamboo behind the stock-tank planter again. Love it!

I’m also loving—as are the hummingbirds—these red-orange flame acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii) flowers. Flame acanthus is a lovely native that thrives in full sun but also does quite well in part shade, as in my garden.

I think it was Bob of Gardening at Draco who brought divisions of native sundrops (Calylophus berlandieri) to a garden-blogger get-together this summer. I stuck the spindly little thing in my rock-mulched raised garden bed, and now look—it’s happily blooming. Thanks, Bob!

Before I go, a parting look at the Yucca rostrata, ‘Powis Castle’ artemesia, sapling Anacacho orchid tree (Bauhinia lunarioides, syn. Bauhinia congesta) and ‘Adagio’ miscanthus in the hillside garden. I’m enjoying the play of textures in this area.
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

0 responses to “Attack of the purple heart monster”

  1. Eric says:

    Our Flame Acanthus just began to show this weekend too. I guess that means we are nearing the end of summer, eh?
    I wish! —Pam

  2. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    It looks like the garden is surviving this horrid heat this year. I really like that last photo with the various textures.
    Thanks, Lisa. This summer is a vast improvement over last year’s. —Pam

  3. Floridagirl says:

    Monster indeed! I learned to hate Purple Heart during the 8 years I lived in my first home. Never did get rid of it all. The creeping roots were pretty deep. Nor did we ever get a freeze to cut it back. I cringe when I see it planted in a garden these days.
    I actually like it for its versatility in sun or shade and for that deep purple color. But it sure can take over. Our freezes probably keep it in check more than in your frost-free climate. —Pam

  4. Loree says:

    Wow so how many of those purple monsters did you plant for it to have already attained such proportions!? Impressive.
    Not a one, Loree. Purple heart was already growing back there when we moved in. I try to whack it back hard in late spring to slow it down, and then of course it dies back with the first freeze. Despite my complaints, I actually do like this plant. But it wants to rule the world. —Pam

  5. commonweeder says:

    Unfortunately I find it all too easy to ignore problems like purple heart monsters. And i pay for it later, but I loved paying attention to all the beautiful flowers, and pots! in the rest of your garden. Great photos.
    Thanks, commonweeder. —Pam

  6. Scott Weber says:

    Love the tradescantia…makes such a nice contrast with the stone.
    It does, Scott. I’m with you—I actually do enjoy this plant, though it wants more than its fair share. —Pam

  7. Gail says:

    The purple heart monster is a plant I love to use in containers…it never dies here, but it never takes over either. The native sundrop is lovely~gail
    It’s a good little pet monster in my garden too, Gail. It fills in where nothing else wants to grow. —Pam

  8. daisygirl_io says:

    The Tradescantia on the stone looks like an ocean wave creeping across the sand. How wonderful to be able to let it grow freely like that and see what it becomes!
    That’s a good analogy, Daisygirl. Soon I’ll be drowning in it. 😉 —Pam

  9. I love those blue containers. Very striking in the garden. I’m hoping to see some blooms on my Flame Acanthus soon. I used to have Tradescantia at my previous house and it took over a bed at the back of the house. I think if I were to have it again, it would be confined to containers 🙂
    I hope your acanthus blooms soon, Jayne. The hummers are loving it in my garden. —Pam

  10. Cindy, MCOK says:

    Pam, I have the Calylophus planted in 2 or 3 spots along the curb in my corner bed. It handles heat and drought without ever drooping and rarely stops blooming. Shoot, I should plant more!

  11. Wonderful textures as always, Pam. I rather like the purple monster, but I’m glad for you that the frost cools its jets.

  12. Mamaholt says:

    Want me to come dig some of that Purple monster up? Did you see Linda’s post about it here: http://www.klru.org/ctg/blog/?p=2944
    I’ve been drooling over that yard on 45th forEVER and had just planned to put the same combo in at my house on a death strip ROW.
    I have some, but need more!
    You are welcome to divisions, Mamaholt. I’ll email you. —Pam

  13. chuck b. says:

    Purple Tradescantia looks great with some big, blue-gray agaves, like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/82479320@N00/4729630810/

  14. Layanee says:

    Love the pond jewels and I just mentioned to Jean over at Dig, Grow…that the first frost will be here in a month or so. I do love the purple trad but it is a very slow grower here even in containers. Miss ya, Pam.
    Will it really, Layanee? Our first frost is generally around Thanksgiving, but we’ll get some heat relief by October. Here’s wishing you an Indian summer and us an early fall! —Pam

  15. Jake says:

    The Purple Heart is a crazy ground cover that wants to take over. It is good in some cases. Lol. Keep us updated on it if it covers all of the stone! The Bamboo is very pretty as well.
    Jake

  16. Lola says:

    I have the Purple plant also but I keep it in a pot as it will take over here. It does have a pretty little pink bloom.

  17. ESP says:

    Hi Pam.
    Love the Queen of purple hearts, with all the recent sun, the purple has turned an insane shade of purple! I have never had a problem with it spreading where I don’t want it to…it has a hard time escaping over my edging boulders after all.
    I also got a spindly Calylophus berlandieri from Bob, I planted mine directly in granite in the hottest part of my Hell-strip, Bob said it could handle conditions equivalent to Mars, and he was totally right. Mine has bloomed since the onset of hot weather and continues to expand…quite amazing. I thought for sure the “twig” that I stuck in the ground would perish…not this one!
    Love the Karr, naturally.
    ESP.

  18. I agree with you about how nicely the plants are playing together in that last photo. There are some really strong and striking contrasts, even with the restrained color palette.