Boat Lily Tradescantia spathacea
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Rhoeo spathacea
- Phonetic Spelling
- trad-es-KAN-tee-uh spath-ay-SEE-uh
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
A tropical sculptural herbaceous perennial plant that works well in containers but must be brought inside during cold winters. Works well as a houseplant. Desired for its unusual inflorescence and attractive foliage. Look for the purple underside of the leaf and the unusual bract-enclosed flowers to distinguish this plant from bromeliads.
Plant in a peat-based potting soil and give it plenty of bright light. If kept outdoors in the summer provide it with afternoon shade. Allow the top 1-2 inches to dry out between waterings and cut back on the water during the winter months.
Quick ID
- Linear leaves with purple undersides are arranged radially
- Flowers are axillary, white, inside pair of boat-shaped bracts
In zones 9 and higher, it will form a dense mat groundcover over time, has escaped gardens to naturalize and shows invasive tendencies.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Vittata'
Variegated leaves
- 'Vittata'
- 'Vittata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Vittata'
Variegated leaves
- 'Vittata'
- 'Vittata'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tradescantia
- Species:
- spathacea
- Family:
- Commelinaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- S. Mexico to Guatemala
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a, 11b, 11a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Three-seeded capsule
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence consists of axillary, boat-shaped, waxy pair of purple bracts with several flowers inside the 'boat', scarcely exerted, ca 1-2 inches; peduncles are 1-2 inches. Flowers are white, <1 inch, with 3 equal petals.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, radially arranged in a crowded apical rosette; simple, flat, linear-lanceolate, acute leaves, base sessile with a closed sheath and entire margin; green or variegated green and cream above, purple beneath, rough and stiff texture, 7-14 in x 1-2 in.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are short, stout, simple, and succulent.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Stinging and itching following contact of cell sap with skin or eyes; ingestion causes irritation of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat, also abdominal pain.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Unidentified
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Sap/Juice
