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Scientific Name:
Tradescantia zebrina
Pronunciation:
trad-ess-KANT-ee-uh zih-BRYE-nuh
Common Name:
wandering Jew
Family Name:
Commelinaceae
Plant Type:
Indoor foliage plant
Key ID Features:
Leaves ovate, 6-9cm long, solid purple underneath, most cultivars with silvery longitudinal stripes above (or just green and purple).

Habit:
Dense, Pendulous
Form:
Weeping
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.1 - 0.2m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Origin:
Central America, Mexico
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 9: (-7 to -1 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Container planting, Hanging basket, Indoor plant
Additional Info:

Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Lustrous
Colour in Summer:
Green, Green, purple, silver stripes; purple undersides.
Shapes:
Oblong, Ovate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Obtuse
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Leaves variegated

Inflorescence Type:
Flowers paired
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Blue, Purple, Pink
Flower Time at Peak:
Can flower any month
Additional Info:
Flowers rarely appear on indoor plants

Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Additional Info:
Not showy,

Bark or Stem Colour:
Propagation:
Stem tip cuttings, Stem/cane cuttings
Optimal Temp.:
Medium
Light Level:
Medium
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Aphids or adelgids, Mealybugs, Mites, Root rot, Scale insects

Course(s):
  • HORT 1193/1293
Location(s):
  • (GNH)  GreeNHouse
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