Tradescantia zebrina

Name: Tradescantia zebrina - plant d'Avenir
SKU: pda258
Price: 4.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

A zebra-patterned indoor creeping plant

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SKU: pda258 Category: Balcony-Friendly, Better Indoors, Bouquet

Tradescantia zebrina is a zebra-patterned, drought tolerant, creeping plant in the Tradescantia genus.

The leaves are spectacular – the upper surface showing purple new growth and green older growth parallel to the central axis, with two broad silver-colored stripes on the outer edges forming a highway to heaven.

The underside of the leaf is a deep magenta.

Three spectacular colors in one leaf – purple, silver and magenta. Enough to make David Bowie jealous.

👨‍🌾GARDENING TIPS👨‍🌾:

- ☁️ Prefers bright indirect light
- If you expose this species to the sunlight for extended periods of time, the variegation will fade and she will slumber into a uniform purple color.
- ✂️ Regular trimming maintains compact growth and encourages branching.
- Divide the bunch every 2 years as the growth is very vigorous and dense
- 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)
- Tradescantia zebrina works beautifully in mixed containers, as groundcover in rockeries, or cascading from raised planters – mix with Heuchera Prince or Achillea Terracotta for cute indoor arrangements
  - 🏠 Indoors – the foliage will remain the same throughout the winter season – and you may even get some winter blooming!
  - 🌲 Outdoors – this variety is NOT frost hardy –

Learn more about the Tradescantia family:

- ENG:
  - Tradescantia Complete List
  - A Guide to Caring for Tradescantia
- FR:
  - Entretien des Misères

The Tales & The Botany: Tradescantia zebrina

Tradescantia zebrina is sometimes called the “inch plant” because its stems grow rapidly and can root at each node that touches the soil, allowing it to literally “inch” across surfaces over time.

Its striking striped leaves also make it a favorite among indoor plant collectors and terrarium enthusiasts.

Tradescantia, commonly called spiderwort, is a genus in the Commelinaceae family, comprising around 75–90 species of perennial herbs.

It is classified as a Category 1b Invasive Species in South Africa because of its ability to colonize large areas quickly so do be mindful about how and where you plant it.

The name ‘Tradescantia’ honours the English naturalists and explorers John Tradescant the Elder (c. 1570s – 1638) and John Tradescant the Younger (1608–1662), who were known for having introduced many new plants from the new colony of Virginia to English gardens. In fact, the type species – Tradescantia virginiana – was brought back by John the Younger in 1629 and so the Tradescantia craze began.

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.

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.

But all of them are considered to be ‘indoor plants’, with the exception of the Tradescantia virginiana and any ofher relatives (Tradescantia Blushing Bride is a good example)

🌸Floral Morphology: Tradescantia zebrina

Tradescantia zebrina flowers are small, actinomorphic, and trimerous, with three light pink 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.