Tradescantia fluminensis

RHS Plant Profile

small-leaf spiderwort

John Fielding

Other common names

jaw plant, Rio tradescantia, Wandering Jew

Synonyms

Tradescantia albiflora

Houseplants Conservatory Greenhouse

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A trailing, evergreen perennial houseplant, with fleshy dark green leaves that are striped light pink and cream with a purple, densly hairy underside. Tiny white flowers are produced intermittently throughout the year

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Commelinaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading branched, Trailing
Potentially harmful: Contact with foliage may irritate skin
Genus: Tradescantia can be trailing or tufted perennials with usually fleshy, evergreen foliage and distinctive, 3-petalled flowers
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in peat-free compost. Place in bright, filtered light but not direct sunlight. Pinch the growing tips to keep bushy and pinch out any plain green shoots of variegated cultivars. Plain green reverted shoots, if left, will take over the variegated growths.

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings using stem tips in spring and summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pinch growth tips to encorage bushiness and remove plain green shoots from variegated cultivars, to stop reversion

Pests

May be susceptible to red spider mite, mealybugs, aphids, vine weevil and thrips

Diseases

Generally disease-free