Plants Profile for Tradescantia fluminensis (small-leaf spiderwort) T. fluminensis is a perennial ground cover that spreads along the ground with soft, hairless stems and leaves. Several species are grown as indoor plants in baskets, especially small-leaf spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis) and inch plant (T. zebrina). View our large variety of Florida Native and non-native trees, the selection of which is integral to the beauty and ecological value of your landscape. The plant will need time to adjust to the light, humidity, and temperature conditions in your home. Even in places where it is a pest it may be grown as a house plant in variegated forms. Tolerant of Shade and Low Light Conditions Can be Grown in Containers Grows Well Indoors. Look at the flowers and leaves and dig up a small portion of the root ball with a shovel. Articles and News. It is also introduced to at least 13 other countries, where it is often considered invasive. Rarely flowers as a houseplant. The flowers unfold one at a time to preserve energy, usually in the morning and will generally close with the afternoon sun. Other names for this species include white spider weed, small-leaf spiderwort, or river spiderwort. However, the spiderwort blooms for far longer than typical bulbous plants. It is noted for its ease of culture and tolerance for wide range of growing conditions. Stem cuttings may also be used to create new potted plants. Examine the plant you believe to be tropical spiderwort for the plant's specific characteristics. Forms dense monocultural ground cover that can be 60 cm (2 ft) deep in overlapping leafy stems (Kelly and Skipworth 1984). Tradescantia ohiensis, commonly referred to as spiderwort, is a native of the United States. Spiderwort plants do best in partial shade but will do equally well in sunny areas as long as the soil is kept moist. Spiderworts can be grown from purchased plants or propagated through division, cuttings or seed. Depending on the species, tradescantias are typically purple and often variegated with silvers, greens, creams, even pinks, and occasionally gold. deep and 8 to 12 inches (20-30.5 cm.) Leaves: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Broadleaf Evergreen Leaf Color: Green Purple/Lavender White Leaf Value To Gardener: Showy Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Leaf Shape: Oblong Ovate Leaf Margin: Entire Hairs Present: No Leaf Length: 1-3 inches Leaf Width: < 1 inch Leaf Description: Tradescantia fluminensis (small-leaf spiderwort) is a perennial subsucculent herb native to tropical and subtropical regions of Brazil and Argentina (Maule et al. With the crawling difussa the three flower petals are almost almost the same size and blue. Identify Plants. Has Unusual or Interesting Foliage With the erecta and communis two blue petals are much larger than the white one. Softwood cuttings of stem tips in spring or summer when the plant is in active growth. The Atlas of Florida Plants provides a source of information for the distribution of plants within the state and taxonomic information. Plant them in spring about 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.) The species thrives in moist areas, where it forms dense monocultures and reduces recruitment of native plants. . Tradescantia 'Green Hill' is an attractive evergreen perennial in the spiderwort family, Commelinaceae. Use a peaty, soil-based potting mix. When choosing a houseplant and placing it in your home, remember that it was grown under ideal conditions in a greenhouse. Tradescantia fluminensis is a species of spiderwort native to South America. Copyright © 2020 Garden Answers | All Rights Reserved |. This name is no longer used by the horticultural world due to its historical use in supporting antisemitic stereotypes. 1. Data Source and References for Tradescantia fluminensis (small-leaf spiderwort) from the USDA PLANTS database It is also known as River Spiderwort, Small-Leaf Spiderwort, Inch Plant, Wandering Trad, Wandering Willie and Wandering Gypsy. Inch Plant, Spiderwort, Wandering Creeper, Wandering-Sailor, Widow's tears, Spider lily, Wandering jew. This low-lying ground cover will creep out to coat the landscape if not maintained. Flowers are white, in small clusters at stem tips. The website also provides access to a database and images of herbarium specimens found at the University of South Florida and other herbaria. Everything about Soleirolia soleirolii is cute: the common name of baby tears elicits that … In areas where temperatures drop below 20 Fahrenheit, those grown as houseplants can be taken outside in summer. The plant requires a moist soil to do well but is retarded by cold climates Tradescantia are climbing or trailing plants which will … Everything you need to know about Small Leaf Spiderwort (Tradescantia 'Green Hill'), including propagation, ideal conditions and common pests and problems. Moderate care. Impacts View Larger Image. Plant database entry for Small-leaf Spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis) with 13 images and 18 data details. Best in filtered sun. Allow the soil to moderately dry between the waterings. The latter has an array of colourful-leaved varieties including ‘Purpusii,’ with dark red or bronzy leaves, and ‘Quadricolor,’ … With their simple foliage and small flowers, spiderworts are great companions to many other plants. It tolerates heavy shade. Leaves are also somewhat pubescent. Tradescantia fluminensis, also named small-leaf spiderwort, is a perennial herb native to South America.It is a very popular houseplant and also outdoor plant or a ground cover. Even in places where it is a pest it may be grown as a house plant in variegated forms. Tradescantia fluminensisalters th… Also grows in shade. Plants may be pruned hard in very early spring if needed. Leaf blades arise from short, closed sheaths and are 2 inches long and 0.75 inches wide. Inch plant may be a particularly apt name. Some are glabrous or have ciliate margins. Plants include representatives of most of our natural habitats, which reflect the habitats representative of the original conditions of our urban properties. Plants in the genus Tradescantia have until recently been commonly known as ‘Wandering Jew’. Pinch stems as needed to encourage dense foliage growth. This genus includes at least 75 different herbaceous perennial species, including some regarded as noxious weeds, some as prized outdoor garden pla… Most cultivars grow to 2’ tall and as wide. Most often these three-petal blo… Tradescantia fluminensis is grown as a garden plant or houseplantin many places. Description Spiderworts are grown for the white, pink or blue flowers whose buds each open for one day. Usually just a few blooms in each cluster are open at once, and all of the blooms are only open for a single day. Choose a country to see content specific to your location, Inch Plant, Spiderwort, Wandering Creeper, Wandering-Sailor. Members of the genus are known by the common names spiderwort or Indian paint. The Plants Database includes the following 33 species of Tradescantia . Air Plant. . Small-leaf Spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis) in the Tradescantias Database - Garden.org Will grow in direct sun with some afternoon protection. Plant Knowledge. It can be used as groundcover in non-frost-prone climates. The plant grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 10. It has attractive, green foliage and produces white, 3-petalled flowers. Another import is C. communis. It's also grown as indoors as a houseplant, but this species requires bright, indirect light and won't cope with freezing temperatures well. It is noted for its ease of culture and tolerance for wide range of growing conditions. Small Leaf Spiderwort. Also known as. Download Garden Answers Plant Identifier App Today! It is one of several plants known by the common name Wandering Jew. Choose a … Dianthus is a cool-season bedding plant, a species of flower that includes "pinks" and carnations. It has oval, dark-green leaves with pointed tips that are shiny, smooth and slightly fleshy about 1 – … Wilcox Nursery & Landscape stocks a full retail line of Florida friendly and native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses. Morphology: Spiderworts are erect, clump-forming herbaceous perennials with fleshy flattened stems and grasslike leaves. In mild climates its a garden ornamental, cultivated for borders and also used in beds and pots. Use a peaty, soil-based potting mix. Tradescantia is a tough tropical plant. The Florida native is Commelina erecta. The species has been introduced to the southeastern United States as well as California, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The flowers of spiderwort are comprised of three petals, which are borne at the tips of foliage stems, and often in clusters. They may remain open on cloudy days, this species requires a good amount of light and pruning for the best outcome. Buy, Sell and Swap. Pinks, and hybrids bred from pinks, are the … Sweet Williams (D. barbatus) are biennial or short-lived perennials.Carnations (D. caryophyllus) are taller and popular in the floral industry for bouquets, but tend to be less hardy than other dianthus.Pinks (D. chinesis) are low-growing annuals.. Best in filtered sun. It is easily grown indoors in pots or baskets. Don't be alarmed if, in the meantime, leaves drop, leaf tips turn brown, or leaf color changes slightly. Common Names: green wandering Jew, small leaf spiderwort, white-flowered wandering Jew, inch plant, speedy Jenny Family: Commelinaceae (spiderwort Family) Perennial Fast Growing Easy to grow - great for beginners! The gardening world has many examples where a single common name is slapped on more than one plant species, and such is the case with the houseplant we know as wandering Jew. It is easily grown as a houseplant. These are great if … Fruits are small, 3-parted capsules containing black, pitted seeds. Easily propagated by stem cuttings. Small Leaf Spiderwort Tradescantia 'Green Hill' Buy Small Leaf Spiderwort. Occurs most densely in partial or full shade of disturbed and undisturbed hammocks, particularly in moist or wet areas but also in well- drained woodlands and shady residential yards. Full Sun. Introduced from Asia to Florida, the little plant to the right is Commelina diffusa (kom-uh-LIN-uh dye-FEW-sah.) This plant is very hardy and can tolerate full sun and water lack which make it really the dream plant for all those who say not to have a green hand. But wait, there’s more names! It’s also known as wandering gypsy plant, wandering trad, wandering willie, or inch plant. Garden Answers is a division of Garden Answers LLC., a Greendale, Indiana based company that offers cutting-edge plant identification technology for mobile devices and has built a community of gardening experts who offer advice and guidance to our users. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-12. How do you tell them apart? Wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis) is an ornamental, trailing, perennial groundcover plant. However, because it is a fleshy plant that retains water, it can withstand extended periods of dryness only to resu… Air plants are interesting plants since they don’t need soil to survive. Many of the light-foliage varieties have dark purple undersides, which creates a dramatic effect. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. The plant requires a moist soil to do well but is retarded by cold climates, especially where there is frost or snow. Plants like a consistently moist but well-drained soil during the growing season, with reduced watering from fall to late winter. The trailing succulent stems can grow up to 2 ft or more. Because it requires moisture it grows weakly, if at all, in sunny areas that dry out for long periods. Small-leaf spiderwort is grown as a garden plant or houseplant in many places. When planted in hanging containers, the attractive foliage cascades down with a trailing habit. It is easily grown as a houseplant. Tradescantia / ˌtrædɪˈskæntiə / is a genus of 75 species of herbaceous perennial wildflowers in the family Commelinaceae, native to the New World from southern Canada to northern Argentina, including the West Indies. Baby Tears. Tradescantia fluminensis “Tricolor” Common name(s): River Spiderwort, Small-Leaf Spiderwort, Wandering Jew and others Synonyme(s): N/A Family: Commelinaceae Origin: the wild type is native from Brasil to Argentina More infos: Small-Leaf Spiderwort can be grown on part sunny to light shaded places in a regular potting mix. apart. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-12. 1995). The spiderwort has the resemblance of a bulb plant, due to the flower stalks growing taller than the foliage. When it reaches full maturity, the leaves of the spiderwort create a fountain-shape, resembling the structure of ornamental grass. Gardens and Tickets. Though not the main reason they are grown, many varieties produce small flowers that grace the attractive foliage. This name is used for several different plant species within the Tradescantia genus. 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