Tradescantia Care Guide
Tradescantia — Noun
The genus Tradescantia belongs to the family Commelinaceae, commonly known as the spiderwort family of American monocotyledonous plants. They're usually trailing or creeping plants with narrow leaves and short-lived, delicately small flowers.
Pronounced: Trade — Ah — Scan -Tia
Genus: Tradescantia is a genus of 85 species of herbaceous plants that make up the family Commelinaceae.
First Use: The first known use of the word 'Tradescantia' was in 1757.
Otherwise known as:
Spiderwort
Inch Plant
Wandering Dude
Moses-In-The-Cradle ('Spathacea' specifically)
Boat Lily ('Spathacea' specifically)
Dayflower
Overview: Spiderwort is an incredibly easy-to-care-for indoor plant that can be super low maintenance or very high maintenance, depending on the look you want from your houseplant. Tradescantia plants are known for their vibrant foliage and fast growth, making them a popular choice for both novice and experienced plant enthusiasts.
Figures
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Tradescantia lifespan
3–5 years
Tradescantia Facts & Figures
In The Pot
Soil
Sand
Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–draining chunky soil
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Out Of The Pot
Windows
Any window is suitable, but lower light will cause them to grow leggy and lose their colours and patterns. We grow all of our Tradescantia in full sun, except for 'Tenderness' and 'Angel Wings'.
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
Tradescantia can be grown outside for most of the year, but we advise taking cuttings to start outdoor plants again in the spring, as Spiderwort plants don't do well during frosts or prolonged lower temperatures.
Temperature Tolerance: 10 °C (50 °F) – 30 °C (86 °F)
Facts
Family
Apocynaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No — Native in China & Australia
Foliage & Habit
Evergreen / Trailing
Safety
Mildly toxic to humans or pets with irritation & swelling if ingested
Tradescantia Light Requirements
The internet would tell you: “Tradescantia loves bright, indirect light. Place your plant near a window with filtered sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, while too little light will cause the plant to become leggy and lose its vibrant colour.”
Here at The Houseplant Shop, we want to clear that up in this Tradescantia care guide — we keep all of our Tradescantia in a window with all day full sun. All of them. Some of the Spiderwort are a tiny bit shaded by others, but they're all there. There are a couple of crispy bits on Yellow Hill, Angel Wings and Tenderness, but only those three specifically out of the 40 types we keep. I'd definitely recommend putting your plants or cuttings in full sun. You can try to acclimatize them slowly if you're worried, but absolutely put them in full sun.
Tradescantia Light Requirements:
Bright, Direct Light: Tradescantia plants flourish in bright, direct light. Too much direct sunlight can scorch white leaves, while too little light can cause the plant to become leggy and lose its vibrant colours.
Artificial Light: If natural light is limited, Tradescantia can also grow well under fluorescent or LED lights. Aim for at least 12–16 hours of light per day if using artificial lighting.
Indoor Placement: Place the plant near a bright window with unfiltered light. East or west-facing windows are often bad choices. If placing near a north-facing window, ensure it has supplemental lighting on it to aid plant growth and to keep colours looking right.
Signs of Light Issues:
Too Much Light: Leaves may appear bleached or develop brown, crispy edges.
Too Little Light: Stems become stretched and elongated (leggy), and the foliage may turn dull or lose its variegation. Bright varieties regularly lose their colours, patterns, and vibrancy when there's too little light. Some varieties of Tradescantia can fully revert to all green. If this happens, cut the stem back to the last coloured leaf and allow it to regrow. Repeat for all the stems in the pot. Discard the cuttings and add artificial lighting if you can't give them a brighter window.
Tradescantia Watering Needs
Tradescantia plants have specific watering needs to keep them healthy and thriving. Here's a guide on how to water them properly:
Tradescantia Watering Needs
Regular Watering: Water the plant thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. This usually means watering once a week, but it can vary depending on your environment.
Avoid Overwatering: Ensure the pot has drainage holes to prevent water from sitting at the bottom, which can cause root rot. It's better to underwater than overwater, as Tradescantia is somewhat drought-tolerant. You can buy a digital plant moisture reader to take the guesswork out of watering your plant.
Winter Care: During the colder months, reduce the frequency of watering. The plant's growth slows down, and it requires less moisture.
Check Humidity: If the air is very dry, you might need to water more frequently, but always check the soil first. You can monitor your humidity with a humidity sensor that stores the average readings for the last 24 hours.
Consistency: Keep the watering schedule as consistent as possible to avoid stress on the plant. We aim for once a week for our Tradescantias, but we are never afraid to skip a week if they still feel too wet.
Tradescantia Watering Tips
Soil Choice: Use well-draining potting soil to help prevent waterlogged roots.
Water Quality: If possible, use room-temperature water or distilled water. Tap water with high mineral content can sometimes cause brown tips on leaves, so always use a good quality dechlorinator. Letting the water air for 24 hours doesn't work in the UK any more, unfortunately, as water companies don't always just use chlorine. Often, water companies use chloramine which doesn't evaporate off over time and needs to be removed with dechlorinator.
Drain Excess Water: After watering, let the pot drain completely to avoid stagnant water at the base. We never let our Tradescantia sit with wet feet.
Tradescantia Humidity Requirements
Tradescantia plants prefer environments with moderate to high humidity. Ideally, they thrive in humidity levels of around 50% or higher.
We would always recommend purchasing a digital hygrometer to monitor high or low zones over the day. Make sure you buy one with a '24-hour average' function to allow you to see where things are going right or wrong. As a bonus, it measures your temperatures too.
Here's how you can maintain the right humidity levels for your Tradescantia
Misting: Regular misting is said to help, but actually kills some of the more delicate continental types like Tradescantia Angel Wings or Tradescantia Tenderness. We wouldn't recommend spraying for this reason. If you need to increase humidity, place a bowl of water next to the plant.
Humidity Tray: Place a tray or bowl filled with water and pebbles beneath the plant. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plant.
Grouping Plants: Grouping your Tradescantia with other plants can create a more humid microenvironment, as plants release moisture into the air.
Humidifier: Using a room humidifier can help maintain consistent humidity levels, especially during dry seasons.
The Right Temperature For Tradescantia Plants
To keep your Tradescantia plant happy, maintain a temperature range of 10 °C (50 °F) – 30 °C (86 °F).
We would always recommend purchasing a temperature sensor to monitor nighttime temperature levels to ensure that there are no high or low zones over the day with the inbuilt memory. These devices can store average humidity and temperatures over a 24-hour period, which enables you to monitor zones in your home more closely. You can access graphs on your phone to view long term data trends to see how the temps fluctuate in your home over the different seasons.
Tradescantia is not frost-tolerant, so avoid placing Spiderwort near drafts or cold windows during winter if the rooms are cold. Most types of Tradescantia can be kept indoors or outdoors, most of the year round, except for when there are frosts. Some varieties can survive with some fleecing in an elevated position away from the cold ground. Avoid putting any varieties with white on the leaves outside during winter, as these are the most fragile to freezing temperatures.
You have to bring them in or offer them frost protection when the weather gets harsher, but it is always a nice thing to do, as they grow totally differently outside vs inside.
Choosing Soil For Your Tradescantia & How To Repot
Use a well-draining chunky potting mix. A general-purpose indoor plant soil or a mix containing peat, perlite, and sand works well for Spiderwort. If there are concerns about pests, sterilize the soil before use. Make sure the pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. To make your own pest free soil, buy the components individually sterilized and mix your own chunky airy mix, perfect for these semi succulent plants.
The Best Soil For Tradescantia Plants
Easy DIY Soil Mix Recipe For Tradescantia Plants: For a basic mix, add 1 litre of coco coir, 1 litre of perlite, 1 litre of orchid bark and 1 litre of compost. Feel free to scale this up until you have enough litres to fill your new pot.
Advanced DIY Soil Mix For Tradescantia: Our Spiderwort soil recipe uses a bit of a more complicated mix — 4 litres of coco coir, 4 litres of perlite, 4 litres of orchid bark, 1 litre of lecca balls, 1 litre of worm castings. You can also add 1 litre each of: activated charcoal and zeolite (unscented).
Where to Buy Soil Recipe Ingredients: If you can't find these ingredients locally or if you are the online shopping type, you can buy the soil mix components online here: Small Coco Coir Pack — Bulk Coco Coir Pack, Orchid Bark, Pumice, Horticultural Sand, Horticultural Grit, Worm Castings, Perlite, Lecca Balls, Activated Charcoal, Zeolite
Soil vs Soilless Mix For Tradescantia Plants: If you've ever had a pest infestation, then you may be tempted to grow plants hydroponically without any soil at all so that pests cannot survive in it. Coco Coir is the bridge between hydro and soil, giving you the best of both worlds. Coir has natural antifungal properties that help prevent root rot, furthermore it's completely inert which means that pests cannot survive in it unless you keep it really wet until it rots. You can even pasteurise the coir before use to ensure no hitch-hikers have jumped in during transport. You can add perlite or vermiculite to make it more chunky, but avoid adding any organic material that could decompose and attract pests. Be sure to stick to a good houseplant fertilizer, as coco coir has no natural nutrients to feed your plant.
How To Repot Your Tradescantia Plant
How to Repot Your Tradescantia: Only consider repotting your Tradescantia when it becomes root-bound or when the potting mix deteriorates, and it looks like raw ramen noodles. Knowing when your Tradescantia plant is root bound is the key to repotting at the right time.
When to Repot Your Tradescantia: Plants usually become root bound after 1–2 years of heavy growth, but an easier way to tell is when the soil is completely drying out in less than 3 days, and you can't water your Tradescantia enough. If you can't see roots around the outside of the soil when you take the plant out of the pot, it's definitely not ready to be repotted. Roots poking out of the bottom are not a problem, that's normal and isn't a sign that you should pot your Tradescantia up. We pot up our Tradescantia at The Houseplant Shop when they are drying out less than 3 days after watering or if their roots look extremely pot bound. We have Tradescantia that we never pot up, we just occasionally trim some roots and add some DIY soil mix.
Tradescantia Repotting Method: When potting up, choose a plant pot that is one size larger than the current one to avoid root rot. One size is typically considered no more than 1 inch (2.54 cm) larger than the previous pot. Never be afraid to use a drill on a size 4-6 bit to drill extra holes into plastic plant pots to aid aeration.
Fertilizer For Tradescantia & How Often To Feed
Feeding your Tradescantia is akin to treating it to a gourmet meal—it appreciates the effort, but only if it's the right kind of nourishment. We've written a full deep dive into the world of plant fertilizers, but if you just want the quick version, dive in to our Tradescantia feeding guide:
The Best Fertilizer For Tradescantia Plants
Choosing the Right Fertilizer:
Opt for a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Think of it as a well-rounded dietary plan with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 or 20-20-20, suitable for Tradescantia.
Feeding Schedule:
Feed your Tradescantia every 4–6 weeks during the growing season, which spans spring and summer. In winter, when the plant slows down its growth, you can skip the fertilizer—just like we prefer lighter meals before bedtime.
Liquid Fertilizer:
At The Houseplant Shop, we exclusively use Ionic Formulex. Though not sponsored, we genuinely find it to be an excellent plant food and recommend it to our readers, as it’s what our plants and cuttings thrive on.
Tradescantia Feeding Tips
Remember, less is more. Overfeeding can lead to issues like burnt roots and unhealthy leaves. So, keep it moderate and balanced, and your Tradescantia will be thriving with its perfectly tailored plant diet.
How To Prune Tradescantia
Pruning your Tradescantia, also known as Wandering Jew or Inch Plant, is essential for maintaining its health and appearance. Proper pruning encourages bushier growth, prevents legginess, and helps keep your plant vibrant. Tradescantia can be pruned at any time of the year, but the best time is during the active growing season in spring and summer. This allows the plant to recover and grow more vigorously.
Why Prune Tradescantia Plants
Encourage Bushier Growth: Pruning encourages the plant to grow more stems and leaves, making it fuller. Do you want to know how to make your Tradescantia bushier and more dense? Prune it!
Prevent Legginess: Regular pruning keeps the plant compact and prevents it from becoming too leggy. If your Tradescantia is leggy, low light can often be the biggest cause of this. To make your Tradescantia plant more full, we would suggest cutting off any leggy stems and putting the plant in a brighter spot to see if that reduces the internodal distance.
Maintain Health: Removing dead or damaged leaves promotes overall plant health and vitality. New growth is stimulated by removing older dead plant growth.
Colour Restoration: Tradescantia colours are light dependant, plants can typically become washed out or revert to all green when kept in the wrong lighting conditions for Tradescantia. When this happens, the best thing to do is to cut off all the bad new growth back to the last node — where the leaves grow out from the stem. Put your Tradescantia into a brighter lighting spot and wait to see if they grow back with their usual majestic colours. If this doesn't work, try cutting them back further by another node.
To Propagate New Tradescantia Plants: Pruning is the easiest way to produce new Tradescantia plants from the one that you already have
How to Prune Tradescantia, Step By Step
Tools Needed: Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to avoid injuring the plant and to make precise cuts. Disinfect your tools with rubbing alcohol before starting.
Identify Stems to Prune: Look for long, leggy stems or areas with dead or damaged leaves. Cuttings don't have to be perfect, they're just the blueprint for a new plant.
Cut Above a Node: Make your cuts just above a node (the point where leaves attach to the stem). This encourages new growth from the node. Tradescantia will often branch out from nodes after pruning, giving your plant an overall bushier, more dense appearance.
Remove Dead or Damaged Leaves: Trim off any yellow, brown, or wilted leaves at their base to keep the plant healthy and attractive. Be gentle, as some Tradescantia are so delicate that the fragile stems will snap if you try to pull off a dead leaf — we use tools to remove dead leaves on most of our Spiderwort for this reason.
Shape the Plant: To shape your plant, prune stems back to where you want new growth to start. This helps maintain a bushy and compact appearance.
Tradescantia Pruning Aftercare
Water the Plant: Give your Tradescantia a thorough watering to help it recover.
Provide Bright, direct Light: Place the plant in a location with bright, direct light to promote new growth.
Avoid Over-Fertilizing: After pruning, avoid fertilizing for a couple of weeks to let the plant adjust.
Propagating Tradescantia
Propagating Tradescantia is a very simple and rewarding process — Spiderwort is well known for its ability to root easily, which makes them the perfect candidates for easy DIY propagation. Tradescantia can be propagated via division as well as stem cuttings, which makes it the perfect plant for beginners to propagate. Even the most cautious of plant lovers will enjoy propagating Tradescantia, as they're so easy to get rooting — we have a 99.9% survival rate here at The Houseplant Shop, they're one of our favourites for quick and easy propagation.
How To Propagate Tradescantia By Cuttings:
Select a Healthy Stem: Choose a healthy stem with at least two or three nodes and a few leaves. Nodes are the points where leaves attach to the stem and where roots will grow. The more leaves on your cutting, the quicker it will grow and establish.
Cut the Stem: Using clean, sharp scissors or houseplant pruning shears, make a cut just below a node. The cutting should be about 4–6 inches long. Remove the leaves from the bottom one or two nodes to expose the stem, leaving the top leaves intact.
Optional Rooting Hormone: Dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone powder to help speed up the rooting process, though this is optional. You can also use seaweed extract as a rooting agent as both a feed and a pre-soak for cuttings.
Place in Water or Soil: For water cuttings, place the cutting in a glass of water, ensuring at least one node is submerged. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh and prevent stagnation. For soil cuttings, plant the cutting in a pot with well-draining soil, burying the node(s) where the leaves were removed. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Provide Bright, direct Light: Place the cutting in a location with bright, direct light. If your Tradescantia has white on the leaves, avoid direct sunlight, which can stress the cutting and cause bleached leaves.
In water, roots should start to form within a couple of weeks. If in soil, gently tug on the cutting after a few weeks to check for resistance, indicating root growth. Once the cutting has developed a healthy root system, transplant it into a larger pot with well-draining Tradescantia soil mix.
How To Propagate Tradescantia By Division:
Remove the Plant from the Pot: Gently remove the Tradescantia plant from its pot. You can usually make this easier by squishing the plastic pot together towards the soil at a few points before you remove the plant from the pot.
Separate the Clumps: Carefully separate the root ball into smaller clumps, ensuring each clump has a few stems and a healthy root system.
Replant the Divisions: Plant each division into its own pot filled with well-draining soil. Water the new plants lightly to settle the soil around the roots.
Provide Bright, direct Light: Place the new plants in a location with bright, direct light to help them establish. If your Tradescantia has white variegated leaves, watch the white parts for sun scorching. If you see bleaching leaves, move the plant back a few feet from the window.
Tips for Successful Tradescantia Propagation:
Healthy Parent Plant: Ensure the parent Tradescantia is healthy and free from pests or diseases. If the mother plant isn't looking too good, wait to take the cuttings at a later date and concentrate on the health of the parent plant first. Healthy mothers equal healthy cuttings!
Clean Tools: Always use clean, sharp plant pruning tools to prevent disease transmission. Wipe your blade in-between each cut to prevent the transmission of diseases and bacteria and fungus.
Patience: Propagation takes time. Be patient and provide consistent care to help the cuttings thrive. If they're not doing well, go back through this Tradescantia plant care guide and follow the basics like lighting, temperature, watering, and humidity. If all the basics are met, your cutting should thrive.
Tradescantia Pests & Problems
Even the most carefree of houseplants can run into a few issues. Here's how to tackle common pests, unwanted guests and frequent problems that may affect your Epipremnum plant.
Tradescantia Common Pest Species
Spider Mites: These tiny pests can spin small, discrete webs towards the base of a plant, and they suck the life out of it until it dies. They have a 2-4 week life cycle, making them one of the shorter living pests that invade our houseplants. Spider mites can often be found by spotting small, discrete webs in the lower parts of your plants that look like a spider may have moved in. Bad news, 9/10 times it's not a spider, but you'll wish it was.
Aphids: Often unwanted guests brought in from our gardens or intruders who fly through our windows, aphids can be tricky to get rid of once established due to the life cycle of an adult aphid. Eggs are typically laid within the plant itself and are impossible to remove. Always be vigilant for eggs hatching after 30 days, and continue treatment for several full adult life cycles. Consider using a systemic pesticide to provide a 4-week window of treatment.
Mealy Bugs: These fluffy white bugs love hiding in leaf joints. They look kind of like large fluffy lice. They have very visible legs and antennae, and are visibly hairy, ranging from the size of a pin head to the size of a small woodlouse. Mealy bugs can be very difficult to get rid of due to laying eggs inside the stems, in the folds of leaves and within the soil where you can't see them. It can be helpful to change your Epipremnum's substrate if you have a bad mealy bug infestation. The life cycle is 4–7 weeks from egg to adult, so you need to be vigilant for eggs hatching out after the first treatment, and you must keep reapplying pesticides. Consider using a systemic treatment to give you a 4-week window of assistance with your pest infestation. If you can't re-apply the systemic, resort to other listed methods until you can re-apply.
Scale Insects: These hard-shelled pests can be tricky. Solution: Scrape them off gently with a soft brush and spray the plant down with our DIY pesticide listed below.
Tradescantia Pest Treatments
Natural Leaf Wipe: As a preventative and spot treatment, you can wipe leaves with undiluted pure neem oil to give them a gentle shine whilst deterring any pests.
Instant Death: Dab visible plant pests with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to send them packing. This is a tried and tested classic method. If the pests don't die instantly when they're drenched in the liquid, or they are large like scale insects, pick them off the plant and put them into a glass with enough alcohol to completely cover them. Few creatures can survive being submerged in pure alcohol.
Natural Homemade Pesticide: If you’re having issues, we would always recommend an insecticidal soap based approach as a first line of defence, as it's much more gentle on your plants. To be effective, the pests must come into contact with the liquid. To make a simple DIY neem oil and soap recipe, mix 1 teaspoon of neem oil with 1/2 teaspoon of insecticidal soap and 1 litre of water. Apply with a spray bottle, ensuring all parts of the plant are covered in the pest spray. You can re-apply this solution every few days without upsetting your plants until there's no more signs of pests.
Natural Pesticide: If you prefer a premixed solution, you can purchase concentrated neem and soap solutions like SB Plant Invigorator that you dilute and apply with a spray bottle. Make sure you follow the directions on the back of the bottle. This premixed natural pesticide is a concentrated formula of horticultural soap and neem oil to help remove pests from your plants naturally and without the use of harsh chemicals. Sprays like this often have added nutrients, so you cannot reapply it every few days as it could burn the plant leaves.
Chemical Pesticide: For a tougher approach, we recommend a systemic pesticide to give the plants a 4-week window of protection to kill all stages of the pest's life cycle without repeated treatments. The only systemic pesticide available in the UK currently is Acetamiprid concentrate. This is known to cause some distortion in new growth immediately after application. To fix Acetamiprid distorted leaves, simply cut the new growth off back to the last healthy point, and your plant should grow back with normal leaves.
Tradescantia Common Problems: Diagnosing and Fixing Plant Woes
Yellow Leaves: If your plant has yellowing leaves, it might be overwatered. Solution: Check the soil—if it's soggy, let it dry out and reduce watering. Consider purchasing a digital water meter to take the guesswork out of watering. Also, make sure your pot has good drainage and that your soil recipe is chunky and airy.
Brown Leaf Tips: This could be a sign of low humidity or under watering. Monitor your humidity, and if needed, increase your humidity by using a humidity tray to increase localised humidity. We don't recommend regularly misting your plant as this can lead to fungal issues. If you proceed, do so with caution and only spray the leaves at night to allow them time to dry before light hits them in the morning.
Leggy Growth: If your plant looks more vine than leaves, it might need more light. Most plant species start to look bad when they're not getting their needs met — it's one of the first signs of lighting issues. Try moving your plant to a brighter spot or adding supplemental LED lighting.
Root Rot: If the roots are black and mushy, your plant might be suffering from root rot due to overwatering. Cut off the affected roots and repot the plant in fresh soil.
Loosing Leaves: If your houseplant is loosing leaves, it could be nothing to worry about and simply a part of the ageing process. As plants make new leaves, they naturally shed the lower leaves that don't get as much light. It doesn't make sense economically for the plant to put all of that energy into a leaf that can't photosynthesise as well as newer ones. Plants love efficiency. The dead leaves go yellow as the plant pulls all the nutrients out of it to recycle for newer leaves. It can be beneficial to leave the dying leaves on the plant until they have gone fully yellow to allow maximum nutrient recycling. If your plant is throwing off more than one or two leaves at a time, then you may need to have a look at your plant care or your plant's environment. One of the biggest causes of premature yellowing of leaves is overwatering or soil that's too dense and stays too wet. It could also be a nutrient deficiency causing the plant to pull the nutrients that it needs from older leaves, causing them to die off. If you don't have a feeding schedule for your plants, it may be worth adding a good quality fertilizer to your plant care routine.
Tradescantia Varieties
Tradescantia is a diverse genus with numerous varieties, each offering unique characteristics and beauty. Here are some of the most popular and notable Tradescantia varieties:
Tradescantia Zebrina (Inch Plant): Known for its striking purple and green striped leaves, this variety is easy to grow and perfect for hanging baskets. It produces small, lavender flowers and can tolerate a range of light conditions.
Tradescantia Purple Heart (Tradescantia Pallida): This variety features deep purple leaves with pink flowers. It's an everblooming perennial that adds a vibrant touch to any garden or indoor space.
Tradescantia Nanouk: A relatively new variety, Tradescantia Nanouk has beautiful pink and green variegated leaves. It's a popular choice for houseplant enthusiasts due to its unique appearance and easy care.
Tradescantia Albiflora: This variety is known for its white flowers and green leaves. It's a charming addition to any garden and adds a touch of elegance with its delicate blooms.
Tradescantia Sillamontana (White Velvet): With its soft, fuzzy leaves and white flowers, this variety is often referred to as "Teddy Bear Vine" or "White Velvet". It's a lovely plant for indoor or outdoor display.
Tradescantia Lilac: This variety produces lovely lilac-colored flowers and green leaves. It's a great choice for adding a splash of color to your garden or home.
Tradescantia Pink Stripes: As the name suggests, this variety has pink-striped leaves and produces small pink flowers. It's a visually appealing plant that can brighten up any space.
Tradescantia Andersonia Blushing Bride: This variety features pink and white variegated leaves and produces delicate white flowers. It's a beautiful plant that adds a touch of romance to any setting.
These are just a few examples of the many Tradescantia varieties available. Each variety offers something unique, making them a versatile and popular choice for both novice and experienced plant enthusiasts. Here at The Houseplant Shop we have a beloved 'faux' variety of Tradescantia called a Murdannia Loroformis 'Bright Star', which isn't a true Inch Plant, but we had to have it because we loved it so much! Our current favourites are:
Tradescantia Continental Brightness
Tradescantia Continental Giant White Clone
Tradescantia Gibasis Jose Puig
Tradescantia Soconuscensis Dragons Tail Variegata
Tradescantia Callisia Fragrans Melnikoff Variegata
10 Tradescantia Fun Facts
Name Origin: The genus Tradescantia is named in honour of John Tradescant the Elder and his son, John Tradescant the Younger, a 17th-century English botanist and gardener who originally found the plant. These English naturalists and explorers introduced many new plants to English gardens in the 17th century.
Colour Variations: Tradescantia come in various colours and patterns, including green, purple, silver, and striped white. Some varieties even change colour depending on the light they receive. One variety called Tradescantia Blue Sue can change from green to glauca blue to dark moody blue depending on the lighting and is truly a sight to behold. She's one of our favourites here at The Houseplant Shop.
Easy Propagation: Tradescantia is known for its easy propagation. You can snip off a piece of the plant, stick it in water or soil, and it will usually root within a few days.
Medicinal Uses: Some species of Tradescantia have been used in traditional medicine. For example, Tradescantia Zebrina has been used to treat skin irritations and minor wounds in some cultures.
Air Purification: Studies have found that indoor plants help to improve our mental health and general well-being. Like many houseplants, Tradescantia helps improve indoor air quality by absorbing toxins from the air and releasing oxygen. In large numbers, houseplants can have a positive effect on your indoor air quality. Result! You can buy more houseplants guilt free!
Unique Growth Habit: Tradescantia has a trailing growth habit, making it ideal for hanging baskets or as a ground cover in larger pots. If kept trimmed, it can stay semi upright and bushy.
Edible Flowers: The flowers of some Tradescantia species are edible and can be used as garnishes in salads or desserts. They are very small and often don't last very long. The flowers of some Tradescantia species are edible and can be used as garnishes in salads or desserts. These flowers are very small and typically don't last very long. Important Note: While some species like Tradescantia virginiana are edible and have been used traditionally by Native American tribes for various food and medicinal purposes, it's crucial to identify the specific species accurately, as not all Tradescantia species are safe for consumption. Always consult a reliable source or expert before consuming any plant parts.
Cultural Symbolism: In some cultures, Tradescantia is associated with good luck and prosperity, making it a popular plant for gifting. Its vibrant foliage and easy care make it a beautiful and meaningful gift for various occasions. Tradescantia's appeal lies not only in its aesthetic charm, but also in the positive symbolism it carries, which adds an extra layer of significance when given as a gift. Additionally, Tradescantia's trailing or creeping growth habit makes it an attractive plant for displaying in hanging baskets or as a decorative accent in any indoor or outdoor space. Its versatile nature and striking appearance have made it a beloved plant in many households and gardens worldwide.
Tradescantia Overview
Tradescantia is a beautiful, easy to care for and incredibly diverse plant. It's easy to fall in love with The Inch Plant when you see some stunning varieties available to purchase for your home. When you realize just how easy to care for Tradescantia are, you will fall in love, as they're such easy plants to keep. They grow so quickly that you can visibly see the plants progress every day. We love that here at the shop, we love checking on the Tradescantias every day!
Here at The Houseplant Shop, we have over 40 types of them in stock as mother plants or mother plantlets. We're massive fans, and we always love working with our Spiderwort and Moses-In-The-Cradle plants. They're very rewarding plants to keep if you don't mind pruning them occasionally, or them taking over your kitchen counter!
Remember, with the advice on this page, each plant within each subtype of tradescantia is unique, so observe your Tradescantia’s needs and adjust your care routine accordingly. Happy planting!
Edited & Fact Checked By: The Houseplant Shop
Article Published: 19th November 2024
About The Houseplant Shop:
Independent Houseplant Nursery
Horticultural Specialists
Managing Over 250 Houseplant Species Onsite
Over 15 Years Of Experience With Horticulture
As head of horticulture, Sarah manages the care and propagation of over 250 plant species at a commercial houseplant nursery. With over 15 years of experience in horticulture, specializing in houseplants, Sarah has extensive expertise in plant biology, soil science, and integrated pest management. She continually reviews and integrates the latest research into her plant care guides. Dedicated to educating others, Sarah has spent years diagnosing houseplant care issues and sharing her real-world experience. Her commitment to scientific accuracy and helping people diagnose plant health issues has established her as a trusted authority and expert in the field.
The Houseplant Shop is a dedicated houseplant nursery, growing all of their own stock from their botanical library of over 250 houseplant species. The nursery staff are horticultural experts who have dedicated their lives to cultivating and nurturing over 250 different species of houseplants, focusing on Aroids, tropical plants, and NOID collectables. All their plants are grown in house in Britain to be more environmentally friendly. The nursery is proud to have been featured by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) as a 100% peat free nursery.
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How We Reviewed This Article:
Our horticultural experts continually monitor the houseplant space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. We are committed to providing current and reliable information. If you have some information that you think would be helpful in this article, we'd love to hear from you. Our team works hard to revise articles for factual accuracy, and we regularly update our pages with new information, techniques, tips, images, trade secrets, and real world experience from the team here at the houseplant nursery. You can find a list of the article updates below.
Written By: Sarah Brooks, Head of Horticulture
Article Received: 16th November 2024
Copyright: The Houseplant Shop (https://thehouseplant.shop)
The use, distribution, or reproduction is permitted, provided the original copyright owner is credited and that the original publication on this website is cited with a direct link to the article, only with these terms. Any other use is not permitted.
List of Article Updates:
20th December 2024: Minor UI updates, added more context in the Tradescantia Fun Facts section
Author Bio:
Author: Sarah Brooks,
Head of Horticulture at The Houseplant Shop