Tradescantia Zebrina
Tradescantia zebrina
📖 About this plant
A vigorously growing trailing plant with stunning, iridescent, oval leaves striped in alternating bands of metallic silver-purple and deep green, with vivid purple undersides. The combination of shimmery upper surfaces and rich purple undersides creates a beautiful color effect as the stems trail. Produces small, three-petaled pink or white flowers. One of the fastest-growing and easiest houseplants — a single cutting can fill a hanging basket in months. Thrives in bright, indirect light but tolerates lower light with slightly less vibrant coloration.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright indirect (4-6 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate to high (50-70%)
15-26°C
Well-draining, all-purpose potting mix with peat and perlite; tolerates a wide range of soil conditions
Balanced liquid fertilizer (10-10-10) diluted to half strength every 4-6 weeks during growing season
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Mexico, Central America
- 📏 Max height
- Trailing 30-60 cm; stems can reach 1-2 m with time
- 📐 Spread
- 30-60 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Pink, Purple
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Purple, Silver Striped
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mildly toxic to cats and dogs — sap contains compounds that cause dermatitis in some individuals and mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested; juice can cause skin irritation
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem cuttings rooted in water or moist soil — one of the fastest-rooting houseplants; stems root within days
🛡️ Health & Safety
Mildly toxic to cats and dogs — sap contains compounds that cause dermatitis in some individuals and mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested; juice can cause skin irritation
Common issues
- Leggy growth in low light
- Root rot from overwatering
- Spider mites
💡 Care tips
- Purple and silver striped leaves trail elegantly from pots
- Pinch leggy stems to encourage a fuller more compact plant
- Mildly toxic so keep away from pets and children
- Propagates effortlessly from stem cuttings in water or soil
