Hardly any houseplant brings as much color into your home as quickly as the Tradescantia, also known as spiderwort or wandering jew. Whether vivid pink, silvery striped purple or creamy white variegation: these trailing plants are easy to care for, vigorous and incredibly simple to propagate. Here we introduce our varieties in detail – all available directly in our shop, as a rooted plant or as a cutting.
What is a Tradescantia?
Tradescantias belong to the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae) and originally come from Central and South America. As houseplants they impress with fast growth, trailing stems and, depending on the variety, leaf colors ranging from silver through pink to deep purple. They are well suited to hanging baskets, shelves or as a cascade on the windowsill and forgive even beginner mistakes. If a stem gets too long, simply cut it off and stick it back into the pot – this makes the plant even bushier.
The varieties in profile
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Zebrina 'Pink Paradise'Probably the most eye-catching Zebrina variety, with strongly pink and purple leaves. The brighter the spot (without strong midday sun), the more intense the pink tones. -
Zebrina 'Smit Silver Sicilian'Silvery shimmering stripes on a green-purple background, with rich purple undersides. Robust and fast-growing, more subtle than Pink Paradise. -
Albiflora 'Nanouk'Our bestseller: compact, sturdy stems with thick leaves in green, purple-pink and creamy white. It grows bushy at first and trails later on. -
Albiflora 'Albovittata'The green-and-white classic: fresh green leaves with clear white longitudinal stripes. Timeless and one of the easiest varieties. -
Fluminensis 'Yellow Hill'Green-yellow variegation in a warm shade rarely seen in Tradescantias. Fresh and light, also suitable for partially shaded spots. -
Pallida 'Purple Passion'Deep purple leaves throughout on sturdy stems. Robust, forgives the odd forgotten watering and shows delicate pink flowers in summer. You will find its striped sister in the article Tradescantia pallida variegata. -
Insider tip: Callisia 'Pink Lady'Not a true Tradescantia, but a close relative. Tiny, waxy leaves in pink, green and cream, ideal for small hanging baskets and terrariums. Learn more in our care guide.
All varieties compared
| Variety | Leaf color | Growth | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zebrina 'Pink Paradise' | Pink, purple | trailing, fast | most intense pink coloring |
| Zebrina 'Smit Silver Sicilian' | Green, purple, silver | trailing, fast | metallic shimmer |
| Albiflora 'Nanouk' | Green, pink, white | compact, bushy | bestseller, thick leaves |
| Albiflora 'Albovittata' | Green, white | trailing | timeless classic |
| Fluminensis 'Yellow Hill' | Green, yellow | trailing, delicate | rare yellow variegation |
| Pallida 'Purple Passion' | Deep purple | sturdy, overhanging | pink flowers in summer |
| Pallida 'Variegata' | Green, cream, purple-pink | creeping-trailing | striped, stripes glow in bright light |
| Callisia 'Pink Lady' | Pink, green, cream | fine, densely creeping | mini leaves, ideal for terrariums |
Care
- ☀️LightBright, but without strong midday sun, ideally at an east- or west-facing window. The more light, the more intense the color. Plants that stand too dark turn green and become leggy.
- 💧WateringLet the top layer of the substrate dry out between waterings. Tradescantias like it evenly slightly moist, but tolerate short dry spells better than waterlogging. Water more sparingly in winter.
- 🪨Substrate and fertilizerNormal, well-draining houseplant soil is enough, preferably with a little perlite or pumice. From spring to autumn, apply a weakly dosed liquid fertilizer every two to four weeks.
- ✂️PruningRegular trimming keeps the plant compact and bushy. The stem tips are directly material for new plants.
Propagation from cuttings
- Step 1 – Cut off a stem: Cut a healthy stem with three to five leaf nodes just below a node.
- Step 2 – Remove the lower leaves: Pluck off the lower one to two leaves so the nodes are exposed.
- Step 3 – Root it: Put the cutting in a glass of water (roots after about one to two weeks) or stick it directly into slightly moist substrate.
- Step 4 – Pot it up: As soon as the roots are two to three centimeters long, they go into soil. Several cuttings per pot give you a full plant right away.
That is exactly why we offer almost all Tradescantias as affordable cuttings too. Ideal if you want to collect several varieties or give them as gifts.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Tradescantia toxic to pets? The plant sap can cause skin and mucous membrane irritation in cats and dogs. Hang the plant out of your pets' reach.
- Why is my Tradescantia losing its color? Almost always it lacks light. Move it somewhere brighter (without direct midday sun) and the new leaves will show strong colors again.
- Why do the lower leaves turn brown and dry? That is normal: older stems go bare from the bottom. Cut back regularly and grow new plants from the tips.
- Cutting or rooted plant? Cuttings are cheaper and almost guaranteed to take. Rooted plants in a 5.5 cm pot are decorative right away.
Conclusion
Whether pink, silver, white or deep purple: Tradescantias are easy to care for, fast-growing and very rewarding. If you would like to know more about lack of light and watering in winter, read Sukkulenten überwintern.
