Tradescantia fluminensis White Giant has compact stems and fairly large white and silvery green variegated leaves, making it an ideal hanging basket plant.
Drought tolerant, luminous, slow growing and compact in shape, the large leaves of ‘White Giant’ will also provide a striking backdrop for the delicate white flowers, making it a luminous addition for any apartment.
👨🌾GARDENING TIPS👨🌾:
-
- Make sure the light is not too weak and divide the bunch every 2 years as the growth is vigorous and dense – they will even block light for their siblings if it means they can get ahead. Shakespearean dramas are everywhere!
-
Regular trimming maintains compact growth and encourages branching.
-
Easily propagated from cuttings year-round; rooting in water is highly effective > check out our step by step article on How to do Tradescantia cuttings. (this one is perfect for beginners)
-
Works beautifully in mixed containers, as groundcover in rockeries, or cascading from raised planters – mix with Tradescantia pallida Purpurea or Heuchera ‘Black Pearl’ for high color contrast
Learn more about the Tradescantia family:
The Tales & The Botany: Tradescantia fluminensis White Giant
Tradescantia fluminensis White Giant is not a formally established name, but is the most common name used for this cultivar. Sometimes you can find it under its old name ‘T. albiflora’.
Tradescantia, commonly called spiderwort, is a genus in the Commelinaceae family, comprising around 75–90 species of perennial herbs.
Native to the Americas, especially Central and South America, these plants are prized for their vivid foliage and delicate, three-petaled flowers, making them favorites for borders, rockeries, and indoor displays.
The genus was named by John Tradescant the Elder, a 17th-century English botanist and gardener who introduced many North American plants to Europe.
In fact, Tradescantia was one of the first North American plants introduced to European gardens in the 17th century, and some cultivars are now so widespread they are considered naturalized in many temperate regions worldwide.
🌸Floral Morphology: Tradescantia fluminensis White Giant
Tradescantia fluminensis White Giant flowers are small, actinomorphic, and trimerous, with three bright white petals.
Flowers are borne in clusters (cymes) at the tips of stems and are short-lived, often opening for a single day but produced in succession to provide extended bloom.
Leaves are alternate, simple, and often lanceolate, with a succulent or slightly fleshy texture in some species. Many cultivars have variegated or purple-tinged foliage, adding ornamental value even when the plant is not flowering.
🍃Reproductive Biology
Tradescantia species are hermaphroditic, capable of self-pollination, though insects such as bees and hoverflies are the primary pollinators.
Fruits are capsular, splitting into three sections containing small seeds.
Some species also propagate readily via stem cuttings, which root easily in soil or water, making Tradescantia a favorite for vegetative propagation and indoor plant enthusiasts.
🌍Ecology & Adaptations
Tradescantia thrives in temperate to subtropical environments, so in France we’re limited to using them in:
-
- Container and indoor gardening: This is a perfect variety for container/indoor gardening as it is quite compact, making it ideal for pots and hanging baskets.
Key adaptations include:
-
-
Rapid vegetative growth.
-
Easy propagation
-
Moderate drought tolerance
-
Pest resilience
-
Foliage interest
-
Origin:
Unknown
There are no reviews yet.