Tradescantia zebrina

Commonly know as the Wandering Jew, this beautiful plant is easy to grow and a show-stopper. It is native to Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and has naturalized in many other countries. Tradescantia zebrina is a vining plant and perfect for hanging planters. It reaches a maximum height of 6 inches and length of 2 feet long or more. It has a succulent stem and slender pointed leaves. The leaves are iridescent and stripes with a zebra pattern of dark green, silver and purple. They have a beautiful natural shimmer.

AKA: Wandering Jew, Zebrina pendula, Spiderwort, Inch Plant, Purple Queen, Speedy Henry

Light: Tolerates low; prefers medium to bright indirect light. Too much light will burn the leaves but too little and the variegation will fade. An east window would be a great location for this plant.

Watering: Keep it evenly moist but not soggy. It can be forgiving if it dries out but don’t let it go too long. Water when the top 2-3 inches are dry. Water slowly and evenly; discard excess.

Humidity: Average home humidity to medium.

Toxicity: Mildly toxic to cats, dogs and humans. However some sources say that it is safe for cats.

Potting Mix: Regular fast draining.

Additional Care: Trim if becoming too leggy as this will create bushier growth. It is a shorter lived houseplant but is easy to propagate.