- Botanical name: Tradescantia zebrina
- Common name: Inch plant
- Family: Commelinaceae
- Plant Type: House plant, Evergreen
Purple
Silver
Tradescantia zebrina, or the inch plant, is a house plant with unusual, variegated leaves that are green, purple and silver. It has a trailing habit so looks great in a hanging planter or on a shelf.
How to grow Tradescantia zebrina
Tradescantia zebrina is very easy to grow and tolerant of neglect. Native to Mexico, it thrives in warm temperatures and bright light and can cope with some direct sunshine. Water freely from spring to summer but allow the top few centimetres of compost to dry out before watering again.
Remove any plain, green leaves, which grow more strongly than the variegated ones (and can be sign that the plant isn’t getting enough light). Inch plants tend to get spindly with age, but are very easy to propagate from cuttings.
How to grow Tradescantia zebrina
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Plant size
60cm height
30cm spread
Tradescantia zebrina and wildlife
Tradescantia zebrina has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Tradescantia zebrina poisonous?
Tradescantia zebrina can be toxic.
Toxic to Cats
Toxic to Dogs
Toxic to People
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock