Tradescantia

Tradescantia zebrina

Inchplant

A trailing subshrub from the warm forests and clearings of Mexico and Central America, with fleshy, water-holding stems that resent staying wet. Give it a bright spot out of direct midday sun, and water when the top inch of mix has dried; the leaves keep best color in good light without scorching. Its succulent stems mean it recovers from drought far more readily than from soggy roots.

Tradescantia pallida

Purple Queen

Tradescantia pallida is a trailing subshrub native to warm regions of Mexico, where it grows in sunny, well-drained ground and stores some moisture in its fleshy stems. Give it the brightest indirect light you can; some direct sun deepens its color, but keep the soil on the dry side. Water only when the top inch of mix has dried out, and let it approach dryness between waterings to avoid rotting the stems.

Tradescantia fluminensis

Small-leaf Spiderwort

A trailing subshrub from the humid subtropical forests of southern South America, where it spreads as ground and low-climbing cover with succulent, water-holding stems. Give it bright indirect light and let the top inch of mix dry before watering; its fleshy stems store moisture and will rot if kept constantly wet. Average household humidity suits it well.

Tradescantia spathacea

Moses-in-the-cradle

Tradescantia spathacea is a clumping subshrub from the seasonally dry forests and rocky clearings of Mexico and Central America, where its fleshy, water-storing leaves let it weather dry spells. Give it bright indirect light and let the top inch of mix dry out before watering, roughly every 7 to 14 days; its succulent foliage rots more easily than it wilts. Ordinary household humidity suits it.

Tradescantia virginiana

Spiderwort

Tradescantia virginiana is a herbaceous perennial native to woodland edges and clearings across eastern North America, where it grows in dappled light and moderately moist soil. Give it bright indirect light and let the top inch of mix dry before watering again; it tolerates a dry spell better than soggy roots. As a temperate native it accepts ordinary household humidity and does not need misting.

Tradescantia ohiensis

Ohio Spiderwort

Tradescantia ohiensis is a hardy herbaceous perennial native to meadows, prairies, and open woodland edges across much of eastern North America, so it tolerates a wide range of conditions and ordinary home humidity. Give it a bright spot with indirect light, and water when the top inch of mix has dried; its fleshy stems hold moisture and will rot if kept constantly wet. It tolerates a brief dry spell better than soggy roots, so err toward letting it approach dryness.

Tradescantia sillamontana

White Velvet

A woolly-leaved perennial from arid northeastern Mexico, this Tradescantia stores moisture in its succulent stems and resents sitting wet. Give it gritty, fast-draining mix and bright indirect light, and water only when the top inch or two of soil has gone fully dry. The dense white hairs that coat its leaves suit it to dry household air, so no added humidity is needed.

Tradescantia cerinthoides

Flowering Inch Plant

A trailing subshrub from the subtropical forests of southeastern South America, with somewhat fleshy stems and leaves that store moisture and resent staying wet. Give it bright indirect light to keep its growth compact and its color, and let the top inch of mix dry before watering again. It tolerates ordinary household humidity and prefers to run slightly dry rather than sit soggy.