Tradescantia zebrina

Common Names

Inch Plant, Wandering Jew, Zebra Plant, Zebrina Pendula, Silver Inch Plant, Wandering Jew Plant, Wandering Dude, Violet Inch Plant, Purple Wandering Jew, Spiderwort, Wandering Tradescantia

Summary

This trailing evergreen perennial is native to Mexico and Central America and is prized for variegated leaves with green and purple on the upper surface, silver stripes, and purple undersides; stems root at nodes to form dense cascading growth that works well in hanging baskets; it prefers bright indirect light (tolerates lower light with fading color), well-draining soil kept evenly moist, and temperatures of 60–85°F; humidity is average to high; propagation is easy via stem cuttings; best uses include hanging baskets or trailing containers, and it can be grown indoors or outdoors in warm climates.

Lifecycle

Perennial in mild-winter regions, Annual in frost-prone areas

Height

6 inches - 3 feet

Spread

1-3 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial sun; tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-draining potting soil

Soil Drainage

Well-draining soil

Soil pH

6.0–8.0, Neutral to slightly acidic

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Year-round

Foliage Color

Purple, green, and silvery-striped foliage with purple undersides.

Fall Foliage Color

Purple, silver, and green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Cuttings, Layering