Scientific Name
Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D.R.Hunt
Common Name(s)
Wandering Jew
Synonym(s)
Setcreasea pallida, Setcreasea jaumavensis, Setcreasea lanceolata, Setcreasea purpurea, Tradescantia purpurea
Scientific Classification
Family: Commelinaceae
Subfamily: Commelinoideae
Tribe: Tradescantieae
Subtribe: Tradescantiinae
Genus: Tradescantia
Description
Tradescantia pallida is a popular trailing plant with fleshy stems and pointed glaucous green leaves fringed red or purple. It grows up to 18 inches (45 cm) tall. Leaves are up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. Flowers are pale orchid-pink, three-petaled, up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) wide, and emerge from curving double bracts at the stem tips.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 8a to 11b: from 10 °F (−12.2 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Growing Tradescantia is easy, and you will find the plants to be quite resilient. These plants typically grow in moist, well-drained, and acidic (pH 5 to 6) soil. Tradescantias do best in partial shade but will do equally well in sunny areas as long as the soil is moist.
You can grow Tradescantia indoors too as long as suitable conditions are given. Provide the plant with either a soilless mix or loam-based potting compost and keep it in bright filtered light. You should also pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier growth.
Allow it to spend warm spring and summers days outdoors, if feasible. During its active growth, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every four weeks. Water sparingly in winter.
These plants like to be kept fairly moist, so water regularly, especially when growing them in containers. Cutting the plants back once flowering has ceased can often promote a second bloom and help prevent re-seeding. Cut the stems back about 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) from the ground.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Tradescantia.
Origin
This species is native to the Gulf Coast region of eastern Mexico.
Cultivars
Links
- Back to genus Tradescantia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
