“Inch plant” and “wandering” names cover several Tradescantia species and at least one look-alike from a neighbouring genus. NC State notes the common name comes from the leaf nodes on T. zebrina, spaced about 2.5 cm (1 in) apart.
The houseplant species fall into two groups. Trailers such as T. zebrina, T. fluminensis and purple heart fill hanging baskets fast. Upright or compact plants such as Moses-in-the-cradle and white velvet grow slowly and stay put. All are in the spiderwort family, and their sap can irritate skin.
Tradescantia types at a glance
Descriptions are from NC State Extension species profiles and UW–Madison Extension.
| Plant | Leaf | Size | Light | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T. zebrina (inch plant, wandering dude) | Green to purple, two silver stripes; magenta beneath | 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall, trailing | Bright light indoors | Fast; ‘Burgundy’, ‘Quadricolor’ |
| T. fluminensis (small-leaf spiderwort) | Green, about 5 cm (2 in) long, purplish beneath | 15–23 cm (6–9 in) tall, to 61 cm (2 ft) wide | Bright, indirect | Fast; many variegated cultivars |
| T. pallida (purple heart) | Dark purple, lance-shaped, up to 18 cm (7 in), pale hairs | About 30 cm (1 ft) tall, spreading wider | Full sun for best colour | Drought tolerant |
| T. spathacea (Moses-in-the-cradle, oyster plant) | Stiff, sword-like rosette; dark green above, purple beneath | 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall | Plenty of bright, indirect light | Slow; grows upward, not for hanging baskets |
| T. sillamontana (white velvet, cobweb spiderwort) | Olive to grey-green, covered in white cobweb hairs | 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall | Bright, filtered light | Slow; drought tolerant |
| Callisia repens (turtle vine) | Tiny, up to 4 cm (1.5 in), green, often purple beneath | 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tall, trails over 61 cm (2 ft) | Bright, indirect | Not a Tradescantia; same family |
Tradescantia zebrina
T. zebrina comes from Mexico to Colombia. UW–Madison Extension describes the upper leaf as green to purple with two silvery-white stripes and the underside as deep magenta. In bright light the leaves appear to sparkle.
Light changes its colour. NC State notes full sun gives the most intense colour, but strong southern sun can wash it out. In low light, stems lose their lower leaves and the rest lose colour. UW–Madison recommends bright light indoors.
NC State lists ‘Burgundy’ (dark purple leaves) and ‘Quadricolor’ (pink, purple, silver and green stripes). UW–Madison adds ‘Leprechaun’.
Tradescantia fluminensis
Small-leaf spiderwort comes from southern Brazil to northern Argentina. Its fleshy green leaves have purplish undersides. NC State rates it high maintenance and recommends pinching the stems to keep the plant dense and prevent leggy growth.
Grow it in bright, indirect light. NC State notes it tolerates full sun only with afternoon protection against leaf scorch.
Most variegated “inch plants” are cultivars of this species. NC State lists:
- ‘Quadricolor’: bright green striped with pale green, white and pink.
- ‘Nanouk’: green striped with cream and pink, purple beneath.
- ‘Albovittata’: white stripes on top, purple beneath.
- ‘Tricolor’: pink, cream and green.
- ‘Speedy Henry’: glossy green and white stripes.
- ‘Aurea’: glossy chartreuse leaves.
- ‘Viridis’: mid to dark green, shade tolerant.
Outdoors in warm climates, NC State warns it roots at every node, can become invasive and can smother native ground covers. Keep it in a pot.
Purple heart (Tradescantia pallida)
Purple heart comes from Mexico. UW–Madison describes dark purple, lance-shaped leaves up to 18 cm (7 in) long on fleshy stems, with small pink or pale purple flowers.
It needs more light than the other trailers. UW–Madison notes plants in shade turn more green than purple, so give it full sun or your brightest window. It is drought tolerant and also tolerates frequent watering. NC State notes it does not tolerate temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F).
Pinch it for compact growth. Over winter indoors, UW–Madison suggests reducing water and holding off on fertilizer until growth resumes in spring.
Moses-in-the-cradle (Tradescantia spathacea)
Also sold as oyster plant, boat lily and under its old name Rhoeo spathacea. NC State describes a rosette of stiff, sword-like leaves 15–30 cm (6–12 in) long, dark green above and purple beneath. Small white flowers sit inside purple boat-shaped bracts.
Unlike the trailers, it grows upward, so NC State advises against a hanging basket. It grows slowly.
- Light: plenty of bright, indirect light. In too little light it stretches, and purple leaves can revert to green.
- Water: let the top 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) dry between waterings, and water less in winter.
- Cultivars: ‘Tricolor’ (purple, white and green stripes), ‘Vittata’ (striped) and ‘Dwarf’.
White velvet (Tradescantia sillamontana)
White velvet comes from dry hills near Monterrey in northeastern Mexico. Dense white hairs cover its olive to grey-green leaves, which turn purplish in full sun.
As a houseplant, NC State recommends bright, filtered light and a loam-based mix. Water moderately in the growing season and sparingly in winter. Pinch the tips for a bushy plant; left unpinched, it trails. Cultivars include ‘Variegata’ and ‘Gold Stripes’.
NC State also lists ‘Pale Puma’, a hybrid of T. pallida and T. sillamontana with glossy green, purple-edged leaves.
Look-alike: Callisia repens (turtle vine)
NC State lists “inch plant” and “creeping inch-plant” among the common names of turtle vine, but it is a Callisia, not a Tradescantia. NC State describes tiny, fleshy leaves on purple stems that form a dense, cascading mat.
Give it bright, indirect light, a well-drained mix with perlite, and 16–27 °C (60–80 °F). Cultivars include ‘Bianca’, ‘Pink Lady’ and ‘Pink Panther’, with pink, cream or white variegation.
Care that applies to every type
From NC State’s genus profile, unless noted:
- Light: bright, indirect light. Protect from afternoon sun, which scorches leaves.
- Water: water when the top 2.5 cm (1 in) of mix is dry. NC State advises watering less in winter for T. zebrina and T. spathacea.
- Temperature: the tropical species prefer 16–27 °C (60–80 °F). Bring outdoor pots in before nights drop below 10 °C (50 °F).
- Pruning: pinch stems to prevent legginess. NC State notes T. zebrina can be cut back hard each spring.
- Propagation: stems root at the nodes. UW–Madison notes cuttings root readily in water or moist potting mix without rooting hormone. See our propagation guide.
For light by species, see light requirements for 50 houseplants. If the pot stays wet, see overwatered or underwatered.
Pets and skin
The ASPCA lists inch plant (Tradescantia fluminensis), including variegated forms such as ‘Speedy Henry’, as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The clinical sign it lists is dermatitis. The ASPCA does not list T. zebrina, T. pallida, T. spathacea, T. sillamontana or Callisia repens by name.
NC State lists all of these as problems for cats and dogs, with low poison severity for the Tradescantia species. Eating them can irritate the mouth and stomach, and contact can redden and irritate skin. NC State rates Callisia repens at medium severity because it contains calcium oxalate crystals.
UW–Madison notes the sap of T. zebrina can irritate the skin of susceptible people. It adds that purple heart juice may irritate some people and dogs, though not commonly. Wear gloves when pruning. For alternatives, see our pet-safe plants guide.
References
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Tradescantia (genus), Tradescantia zebrina, Tradescantia fluminensis, Tradescantia pallida, Tradescantia spathacea, Tradescantia sillamontana, Callisia repens
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension, S. Mahr: Tradescantia zebrina, Zebra Plant, Purple Heart, Tradescantia pallida
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Inch Plant