Not Hostas: The Low-Maintenance Alternative That'll Add Texture To Your Shaded Garden

Hostas are one of the most common ground covers for shade gardens, which can make them feel a bit bland, especially if you're trying to cover large beds. The large, smooth leaves of hosta plants work well in contrast with tall ornamental flowers that create interest on their own. However, some shade gardens feature more subtle flowers that would pair better with an interesting ground cover that adds texture to the space. Whether you're looking to change up the color variety in your shade garden or you're trying to add sparkle to your home with a color-changing inch-plant, purple heart (tradescantia pallida) is one low-maintenance hosta alternative that makes a unique impact in shade gardens.

Purple heart is a stunning variety of inch plant that produces deep purple foliage that fades to green in the fall. Most purple heart plants are grown as annuals, but they can be grown as perennials in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11. In the summer, they bloom with small pink flowers that appear to be cradled in the leaves, giving them the nickname Moses in a basket. Purple heart grows to be about 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide in partial shade conditions. Plus, you won't want to miss out on the benefits of adding this deer-resistant ground cover with pretty flowers to your beds.

The vibrant plum-colored foliage makes purple heart the perfect fast-growing shade plant to effortlessly fill your garden with color. However, just because they are low-maintenance, it doesn't mean that they will grow completely without care. For your purple heart flowers to grow successfully in your shaded garden, you'll need to make sure you prepare the soil and address concerns for common pests and diseases. They grow best in rich, moist, well-draining soil. They can tolerate unfavorable conditions, such as drought or humidity, but they require good drainage to thrive.

Luckily, you don't have to worry about any major diseases with purple heart plants, but they are susceptible to some pests. Aphids, scales, and mealy bugs have been known to cause some problems. You could try to keep aphids out of your garden with a companion plant that they can't stand, like ginger. You can also treat the garden bed with neem oil to prevent or remove these annoying pests.