Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
New Vogue ™ Feeling Flirty ™ genus Tradescantia . Photo by : Proven winner
Tradescantiais a various plant genus encompassing tropic species that are suitable as indoor houseplant , as well as brave species that can be mature outdoors . tropic varieties are typically turn for the attractive leaf that comes in an regalia of colors and patterns , while audacious types are arise for their charming three - petaled flowers that bloom for weeks during spring and summer .
This forgiving easy - to - grow plant is desirable for beginning gardeners and has a broad range of uses , whether augment national infinite or when plant in the landscape painting . Add spiderwort plant to shadowiness garden , forest borders , container , or attend baskets . Here ’s how to rise and use this versatile industrial plant in your home interior decoration or landscape .
On this page : Basics|Growing Tips|Care and Maintenance|Tradescantia Varieties|Toubleshooting|Display Ideas
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BASICS
Botanical name:
Tradescantiaspp .
Common names:
Spiderwort , royal dayflower , Virginia spiderwort , common dayflower , purple meat , wandering buster , trinity flower , inch plant , widow ’s tears , huitre plant .
Origin:
aboriginal to North America , Central America , and South America
Zones:
Most audacious types can be produce out of doors in USDA Zones 4 - 9 . Tropical or semi - tropical species are unfearing in Zones 9 - 12 , depending on the variety .
Care level:
Easy
Light requirements:
Full sunshine to shade , depending on the variety . Houseplants prefer promising indirect light .
Growth rate:
Medium to fast , look on the variety
Foliage:
audacious varieties of spiderwort produce strappy sess - like leaves that grow in glob , in colors of greenish , blue - green or gold . Plants may buy the farm back during the heat of summertime , returning from late summer to fall .
Tropical diversity , which are grow chiefly for the foliage , produce pointed or lance - mold leaves , with strong or variegated blueprint in shades of dark-green , ashen , silver , purple , pink or ointment .
Flowers:
Three - petaled flowers 1/2 to 2 inches wide come up in shades of white , purple , lilac-colored , blue , or pink . The blossom on tropical mintage are undistinguished compared to hardy outside species . Individual flowers last for a single Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . Bloom time varies depending on the variety and growing condition .
Habit and size:
upright piano , circularise or trailing habit ; 3 to 36 column inch tall , 9 to 24 in panoptic
Is tradescantia poisonous?
Tradescantia is mildly to moderately toxic to pets and child . Contact with the sap can cause itching and pelt irritation . Ingestion may make stomach confused or other digestive issuing . get hold of your doctor , veterinary surgeon or local poison control if necessary .
Tradescantia lookalikes:
TRADESCANTIA GROWING TIPS
Tradescantia pallida . photograph by : Toyakisphoto / Shutterstock
Where to grow:
Indoors , place near a window that get bright indirect spark . Outdoors , topographic point in a maculation that receives full sunshine ( with tribute from afternoon Lord’s Day in the live region ) to shade , calculate on the variety . Indoor houseplants can be placed outside in a bright umbrageous area during warmer months .
Temperature:
Indoor houseplants prefers temperature between 55 - 80 degrees , and no cold than 50 degrees .
Humidity:
They also prefer higher humidness . During wintertime when indoor humidness levels are low , place plant life on a tray filled with pebbles and urine or employ a room humidifier to increase humidness .
Soil type:
Garden plants prefer productive , well - draining soil with an acidic pH of 5.0 - 6.5 . They are adaptable to mediocre garden land as long as they do n’t dry out out . For indoor houseplants , use a high quality all - purpose potting land .
Pot requirements:
Choose a deal that is slimly full and deep than the root ball . Make trusted containers have safe drainage to prevent theme rot .
Propagation:
Tradescantia is soft to broadcast from stem cut , offsets , segmentation , or seed . Place offsets or cuttings in water to settle , or embed directly into soil . part brave perennial every few geezerhood in spring or free fall . Start seed indoors 8 week before transplanting outside .
2023 Houseplant of the Year:New Vogue™ Feeling Flirty™ Tradescantia
New breeding , more succinct , and more coloured !
A unique variant with pinkish and green stripy foliage that attend as if it was painted on . This trailing plant is perfect for hanging baskets or as a spiller element in mixed containers . Like other spiderworts , Feeling Flirty ™ can be grow indoors or out ; 2 to 4 inches marvelous , give chase up to 36 in .
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TRADESCANTIA CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Watering:
genus Tradescantia favor dampish soil . supply adept drainage and avoid overwatering to prevent root rot . Underwatering can induce flora stress . water system plant when the grunge Earth’s surface is dry 1 - 2 inches deep .
Fertilizing:
Fertilize houseplants monthly during the growing time of year with a balanced swimming fertiliser . For outside plant , give a slow - handout all purpose fertilizer in early outpouring and mulch with a thin bed of compost .
Pruning:
Trim back vining types if they become leggy to encourage a wide habit . Hardy varieties may become untidy after flowering . Shear back by a third to reinvigorate and encourage late time of year rebloom .
Repotting:
If roots are circulate the bottom of the pot or grow out of the drainage holes , it ’s prison term to repot . Do this in outflow when plants emerge from semi - dormancy . hit plant from the potful , taking care not to break the fragile stem , and gently tease out roots . property in a newfangled container that is 1 to 2 inches larger than the old can and use impertinent soil . water supply exhaustively and place in bright collateral light .
Pests:
Indoor houseplant pesterer may includeaphids , wanderer mites , thrips , scale , andfungus gnats . Rinse plants with urine , dab affected areas with 70 % rub alcoholic beverage , or use aninsecticidal soapfor severe infestations . Garden pests include aphids andslugs .
TRADESCANTIA VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven winner
Purple Spiderwort — Buy now from Proven WinnersTradescantia zebrina
Zones:8 - 12Exposure : Part shade to shadeHabit : Spreading trailing habitSize:10 to 14 inches tall and wideBloom time : flora may bloom sporadically yr - round . gloss : purplish foliation with grey-headed - gullible highlights , hot pinkish undersides . Flowers are clean or lavender .
The trailing purple leaf appear attractive by itself or when fuse with other plants . apply in advert baskets or as a stand up - alone dialect . Plant as an annual ground cover in shady beds , or as a year - rung perennial in warmer climates . Can be grown indoors as a houseplant .
New Vogue ™ Feeling Flirty ™ —Buy now from Proven WinnersTradescantiahybrid
Zones:10 - 12 , usually rise indoors or as an annualExposure : metier to undimmed light indoors , part ghost outdoorsHabit : Trailing habitSize:2 to 4 in marvelous , trails to 36 inchesBloom time : plant life may flower sporadically fountain to fall when grown out of doors . Color : pinkish and green stripy foliage with purple underside
The pink and green stripy foliage looks as if it was painted on . This track flora is perfect for string up basket or as a spiller element in mixed container .
' Webmaster ' Spiderwort — Buy now from Proven WinnersTradescantiahybrid
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Part sun to sunHabit : Mounding habitSize : Up to 18 in tall , 24 inches wideBloom time : betimes to mid - summerColor : Green foliage with lilac - colored blossom
The affectionate royal peak have a soft lilac boundary and are large for spiderwort at 2 inch wide . ripe grown in part sun to sun , and cut the plants back after flower to rejuvenate the foliage .
Photo by : Fabrizio Guarisco / Shutterstock
' Nanouk’Tradescantia albiflora
Zones:10 - 12Exposure : Part specter to shade off , or mass medium to bright indirect light indoorsHabit : depressed trailing habitSize:3 to 6 inch magniloquent , 12 to 24 inches wideBloom clock time : springiness to fallColor : Cream , unripened , and pink striped foliage with magenta - pinkish undersides . Flowers have white , yellow , and pinkish accent mark .
This newer cultivar produces thick upright leaves with spectacular variegation in tone of pinkish , emollient , green , and purple . utilise as a populate accent mark in hanging pots or baskets indoors . Plants can be placed outdoors during warmer months .
Photo by : Jimenezar / Shutterstock
royal HeartT. pallida
Zones:8 - 11Exposure : Full sunlight to fond shadeHabit : Trailing spreading habitSize:1 to 2 feet tall and wideBloom time : SummerColor : regal leaf , pinkish flowers
Lanced - form purple foliage can reach up to 7 inches long . This versatile tender perennial can be grown in a reach of light conditions and is useful as a groundcover , edging works , in baskets or containers . produce indoors class - round as a houseplant . leafage color will be deep with more sun .
Photo by : a.pao / Shutterstock
Inch Plant , small - foliage spiderwortT. fluminensis
Zones:9 - 12Exposure : Full sun to fond spook , with trade protection from blistering afternoon sunHabit : diffuse or trailing habitSize:6 to 9 inch tall , 9 to 24 inches wideBloom metre : SummerColor : Green leaf , ashen flowers
The vigorous growth substance abuse makes this species utilitarian as a ground cover . Use as edging , in containers or baskets . May also be get as a houseplant . in plant is considered trespassing in some areas of the Confederate States . In addition to the unbowed species , varieties include ‘ tricolour ’ , ‘ Trailing Au ’ and ‘ White Stripe ’ .
Photo by : fanny harryanto / Shutterstock
' Tricolor ' , syn . boat lily , huitre plant , Moses - in - the - CradleT. spathacea , syn . Rhoeo spathacea
Zones:9 - 11Exposure : Full sun to partial spook , with protection from red-hot good afternoon sunHabit : Upright habitSize:6 to 12 inch tall , 12 to 24 inch wideBloom time : Flowers throughout the yearColor : Pink and green foliage with magenta undersides ; white flowers
blade - shaped leaves up to 5 inch long are vertically reave with pinkish and green . Upright plant chop-chop develop multiple rosettes , making this a good choice as a ground cover , as edging , or in skunk . Can be grow outdoors year - round in warmer climates or as a houseplant .
Photo by : Nikolay Kurzenko / Shutterstock
Virginia Spiderwort , syn . common spiderwort , spider lilyT. virginiana
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : fond sun to shadeHabit : Upright spreading habitSize:18 to 36 inches improbable , 12 to 18 in wideBloom time : leaping to summertime , with possible rebloom in fallColor : dark-green foliage , violet - blue flowers
Native to many regions of the U.S. , this hardy perennial makes a various addition to timber borderline and water gardens . Clusters of triangular purplish - puritanical flowers bloom above strappy grass - like foliage from late springiness to mid - summer . Plants may go semi - dormant in the heat of summertime , reblooming again in dip when the weather cool .
Photo by : Izabela Edmunds / Shutterstock
' Sweet Kate ' , syn . ' Blue and Gold’T. andersoniana
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full Lord’s Day to fond shadeHabit : Upright spreading habitSize:10 to 18 inch tall , 12 to 18 inches wideBloom time : Late spring to mid - summerColor : Gold foliage , purple bloom
This unusual variety is raise for the smart gold strappy foliage that contrasts dramatically with rich purple flowers . Plant in a site that receives full to fond sunshine for skillful foliage color , with auspices from hot good afternoon sunlight to foreclose leafage tan . Use as a stand - alone dialect , in container , mixed borders or woodland gardens .
TROUBLESHOOTING
Indoor Houseplants:
Outdoor Plants:
DISPLAY IDEAS
Photo by : jamaludinyusuppp / Shutterstock
