Tradescantia

This one is so familiar - lots of this in our gardens here.

Yes it´s pretty. I´m hoping it will grow outside.

I've grown this outdoors in a previous garden ... but in a part-shaded section amongst ferns - and it did very, very well growing to around a foot in height. When it's in full sun it does tend to get a bit burnt over here. I just love the little flowers on this.

This is below the trees, dappled shade, but I´m not sure if the winter will kill it off. I believe it can go to below zero. I pinched it from a friend so I can always get some more !! Are the flowers similar to the purple tradescantia?

I think it's frost more than cold that this plant doesn't like - but it's easy to strike, so if your friend has some you'll have an endless supply. The flowers are pretty much the same Gwen - lovely little purple ones.

This is such a common plant and I think people don´t appreciate it. I´ve stuck bits in (sorry - planted), together with a Spanish trailing plant I keep forgetting the name of, on top of the wall down our drive. They´re both growing well and I hope will hide the grotty wall until it can be replaced. There were several of the purple tradescantias here when we bought the house 4 yrs ago, and they´re still fine so I hope to be lucky with the other two stripey ones.

I've often had them in hanging pots as well as in the beds that get full sun during summer - they're a great survivor and add a lot of colour.