Tradescantia zebrina

The zebra plant is an herbaceous perennial often grown as an ornamental houseplant with interesting, variegated foliage striped, green, white, and silver with purple undersides. The common name, zebra plant, is the result of the striped leaves of silver and white that appear in a zebra-like pattern. The plant has a trailing and creeping habit and can be used as a groundcover in plant hardiness zones 9 to 11. In cooler climates, it is used as an annual or indoor plant. It is native to Mexico to Columbia. This plant is a member of the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae). The specific epithet, zebrina, means "zebra striped."

The zebra plant tolerates a wide range of growing conditions. It does best in filtered sun, average room temperatures and moist but well-drained soil. Water the plant regularly, but allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and also reduce watering during the winter months. This plant will thrive in temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees and tolerates the average home humidity levels as well as high humidity. This plant can be pruned back hard every spring and can be taken outside on a protected patio in the summer.  Trimming keeps this creeper contained as well as promoting denser foliage.  Removing leggy growth also allows for stem cuttings that can be used for propagation. 

The stems are succulent, branching, and can root at the nodes. They also have a watery sap that can cause skin irritation. The leaf nodes on the stem are about an inch apart; hence, the common name inch plant. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate and clasp the stem at the base. The upper surface of the leaf is green to purple with two wide silvery-white stripes. The lower surface is a deep magenta or purple. Tiny three-petaled lavender-purple flowers with yellow anthers appear infrequently indoors. When grown outdoors, they will bloom intermittently throughout the year.  

The zebra plant is desired for its showy, colorful foliage and fast growth. It is commonly grown indoors in a hanging basket or in interiorscapes as a groundcover. Being low maintenance and easy care, makes it a popular houseplant.

Quick ID Hints:

• Leaves are 2-ranked and 2 longitudinal stripes of silver and white
• Stems are trailing with closed sheaths
• Leaf undersides are purple
• tiny, 3-petaled, lavender purple flowers with subtended by paired bracts
• leaf nodes are one inch apart

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for aphids, mealybugs, scale, whiteflies, and spider mites as these can be an issue if left unchecked. Root rot and stem rot can occur in soggy soil. Leaf spot or other fungal diseases can result from overcrowding or from getting the leaves wet during watering. When located in full sunlight, the greatest color intensity can be appreciated. However, in more southern locations, the sun can wash out the color. In areas providing low lighting, the stems can lose their lower leaves, and the remaining leaves can lose some of their beautiful color.

If this plant is ingested, gastrointestinal irritation can result. Contact with plant sap causes skin irritations in some individuals. Keep this plant out of reach of small children and pets. Wear gloves when handling this plant.

More information on Tradescantia.