Tradescantia mundula 'Fairy Wings' (v)

RHS Plant Profile

spiderwort 'Fairy Wings'

Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

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A low-growing, clump-forming evergreen perennial with creeping stems which will eventually spread and hang downwards. Small, pointed, slightly curved oval foliage is variegated with grey-green and pink-purple stripes and a pink margin

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–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): H1B

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Commelinaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Tradescantia can be trailing or tufted perennials with usually fleshy, evergreen foliage and distinctive, 3-petalled flowers
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Undemanding, easy-to-grow houseplant or use for summer outdoor displays planted in fertile, free-draining soil. Direct sunshine may scorch the leaves. Indoors grow in bright filtered light, planted using peat-free houseplant or multipurpose compost. When in active growth water moderately and liquid feed monthly. Reduce watering in winter. See houseplant cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by taking stem tip cuttings or by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Remove faded flowered stems

Pests

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

Diseases

Generally disease-free