Dayflower Tradescantia
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Dayflower:
Previously known as:
- Ephemerum
- Phonetic Spelling
- trad-es-KAN-tee-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Tradescantia is a genus of perennial plants that may have a sprawling or erect habit and belong to the spiderwort or dayflower family (Commelinaceae). There are 86 accepted species, and they are native from southern Canada to South America and have become naturalized throughout the world. Generally, they are weakly upright plants that grow in clumps in woodland areas and open fields. They can form a dense ground cover and in some areas are regarded as invasive weeds. The genus name, Tradescantia, is in honor of John Tradescant who was a plant collector and gardener for King Charles I of England. He and his son introduced these plants to Europe. Spiderwort gets its name from the thick, sticky secretion that is present when a stem is cut. This substance becomes thread-like and silky when it hardens, appearing similar to a spider web.
These plants prefer bright, indirect light and moist, well-drained, acidic, humus soil or potting mix. They can tolerate full sun but need protection from the afternoon sun. Too much sun may cause leaf scorch. Water these plants when the top inch of the soil is dry. The hardy types can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9, but the tropical and semi-tropical species are hardy from zones 9 to 12. The tropical and semi-tropical plants prefer temperatures between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Outdoor plants of this type need to be brought indoors before temperatures drop below 50 degrees. Pinching back the stems will encourage new growth and prevent leggy stems. These plants are easy to propagate from stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, division,and easily root at the stem nodes.
The stems and leaves of most of the species are somewhat succulent. The leaves are fleshy, mucilage-filled, and the leaf color ranges from purple, green, or variegated. The flowers are small, delicate, 3-petaled, saucer-shaped, and are found in shades of white, pink, purple, or blue. The blooms are short-lived, but the flowering season lasts 4 to 6 weeks. The fruit is a tiny, 3-valved capsule that splits open to release 2 or more seeds.
Species of Tradescantia are widely available and are frequently used as ornamentals or houseplants. This plant also work well mass planted along a slope, walkway or patio garden. Its attractive foliage makes it a striking accent plant or a feature in a native or cottage garden. They may be used in perennial beds of native and pollinator gardens. Tropical forms can be used as houseplants and in hanging containers but should be avoided in the landscape as they can become quite weedy. As a houseplant, they provide colorful foliage, delicate flowers. and cascading vines. They are easy to care for and fast-growing.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for spider mites, aphids, thrips, and mealybugs. Snails and caterpillars can damage young shoots. Too much direct sun can cause leaf scorch. Soggy and poorly drained soils can cause root rot. In cool and humid conditions, botrytis blight can occur causing a gray mold to grow on the leaves and flowers. Some species can be invasive. Choose the best variety for your climate and be aware of any invasive potential if used as a mass planting.
The leaves and sap of some species of Tradescantia can cause skin irritation or rash in people and pets. Ingestion can cause mouth or stomach irritation.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Flower Bonanza Garden Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Pale Puma' (T. pallida x T. sillamontana)
1 ft. tall, 3 ft. wide, purple stems, glossy green leaves with purple edges, small white flowers in the fall
Tradescantia fluminensis (Inch Plant)
- Tradescantia mundula
creeping habit, green pubescent leaves, white flowers - Tradescantia mundula variegata 'Tricolor'
trails 3 to 5 ft, green stem, leaves are pale green and creamy white, young shoots are purple pink
Tradescantia ohiensis (Smooth Spiderwort or Ohio Spiderwort
6 to 9 inches tall, 9 inches to 2 ft. wide, green leaves with purple undersides, tiny white flowers Tradescantia hirsuticaulis (Hairystem Spiderwort)
1 to 3 ft. tall, 8 inches to 1 ft. wide, hairy stems, linear green hairy leaves, purple flowers late spring to early summer
2-3 ft tall, 2 ft. wide, grass-like leaves, green to purplish stems, blue-green waxy leaves, flowers are deep blue to rose blue Tradescantia pallida (Purple Heart)
12 to 18 inches tall and wide, dark purple leaves with pale hairs, pink or pale purple flowers with bright yellow stamens Tradescantia sillamontana (Cobweb Spiderwort or White Velvet)
1 ft. tall, 16-20 inches wide, olive to gray green leaves with white wooly hairs, purple pink flowers in the summer Tradescantia spathacea (Boat Lily or Oyster Plant)
6 inches to 1 ft. tall rosette, 1-2 ft. wide, clumping, dark green leaves with purple undersides, white flowers Tradescantia subaspera (Zigzag Spiderwort)
2-2.5 ft. tall, equally as wide, clumping, zigzag stems, broad dark green folded leaves, violet blue to purple blooms Tradescantia virginiana (Virginia Spiderwort)
1.5-3 ft. tall, 1-1.5 ft. wide, clumping, long, narrow, dark green folded leaves, violet-blue to purple flowers Tradescantia zebrina (Inch Plant or Zebra Plant)
6-9 in. tall, spreads 2-3 ft., trailing, zebra pattern, deep green with silver stripes, purple undersides, rosy-purple flowers - 'Pale Puma' (T. pallida x T. sillamontana)
- 'Pale Puma' (T. pallida x T. sillamontana), Tradescantia fluminensis (Inch Plant), Tradescantia hirsuticaulis (Hairystem Spiderwort), Tradescantia mundula, Tradescantia mundula variegata 'Tricolor', Tradescantia ohiensis (Smooth Spiderwort or Ohio Spiderwort, Tradescantia pallida (Purple Heart), Tradescantia sillamontana (Cobweb Spiderwort or White Velvet), Tradescantia spathacea (Boat Lily or Oyster Plant), Tradescantia subaspera (Zigzag Spiderwort), Tradescantia virginiana (Virginia Spiderwort), Tradescantia zebrina (Inch Plant or Zebra Plant)
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Pale Puma' (T. pallida x T. sillamontana)
1 ft. tall, 3 ft. wide, purple stems, glossy green leaves with purple edges, small white flowers in the fall
Tradescantia fluminensis (Inch Plant)
- Tradescantia mundula
creeping habit, green pubescent leaves, white flowers - Tradescantia mundula variegata 'Tricolor'
trails 3 to 5 ft, green stem, leaves are pale green and creamy white, young shoots are purple pink
Tradescantia ohiensis (Smooth Spiderwort or Ohio Spiderwort
6 to 9 inches tall, 9 inches to 2 ft. wide, green leaves with purple undersides, tiny white flowers Tradescantia hirsuticaulis (Hairystem Spiderwort)
1 to 3 ft. tall, 8 inches to 1 ft. wide, hairy stems, linear green hairy leaves, purple flowers late spring to early summer
2-3 ft tall, 2 ft. wide, grass-like leaves, green to purplish stems, blue-green waxy leaves, flowers are deep blue to rose blue Tradescantia pallida (Purple Heart)
12 to 18 inches tall and wide, dark purple leaves with pale hairs, pink or pale purple flowers with bright yellow stamens Tradescantia sillamontana (Cobweb Spiderwort or White Velvet)
1 ft. tall, 16-20 inches wide, olive to gray green leaves with white wooly hairs, purple pink flowers in the summer Tradescantia spathacea (Boat Lily or Oyster Plant)
6 inches to 1 ft. tall rosette, 1-2 ft. wide, clumping, dark green leaves with purple undersides, white flowers Tradescantia subaspera (Zigzag Spiderwort)
2-2.5 ft. tall, equally as wide, clumping, zigzag stems, broad dark green folded leaves, violet blue to purple blooms Tradescantia virginiana (Virginia Spiderwort)
1.5-3 ft. tall, 1-1.5 ft. wide, clumping, long, narrow, dark green folded leaves, violet-blue to purple flowers Tradescantia zebrina (Inch Plant or Zebra Plant)
6-9 in. tall, spreads 2-3 ft., trailing, zebra pattern, deep green with silver stripes, purple undersides, rosy-purple flowers - 'Pale Puma' (T. pallida x T. sillamontana)
- 'Pale Puma' (T. pallida x T. sillamontana), Tradescantia fluminensis (Inch Plant), Tradescantia hirsuticaulis (Hairystem Spiderwort), Tradescantia mundula, Tradescantia mundula variegata 'Tricolor', Tradescantia ohiensis (Smooth Spiderwort or Ohio Spiderwort, Tradescantia pallida (Purple Heart), Tradescantia sillamontana (Cobweb Spiderwort or White Velvet), Tradescantia spathacea (Boat Lily or Oyster Plant), Tradescantia subaspera (Zigzag Spiderwort), Tradescantia virginiana (Virginia Spiderwort), Tradescantia zebrina (Inch Plant or Zebra Plant)
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tradescantia
- Family:
- Commelinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native American tribes used Virginia spiderwort for various food and medicinal purposes.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada, U.S.A., South America
- Distribution:
- Naturalized throughout the world
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers attract bees and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Horizontal
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is tiny capsule that splits into when dry to release 2 or more seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are small, delicate, saucer-shaped, 3-petaled with 6 yellow anthers. The inflorescences are terminal or terminal axillary. They appear as cymes and umbel-like. Depending on the species, the colors range from white, blue, purple or pink, and there are 6 yeloow anthers. Each bloom only lasts a day, but flowering lasts from 4 to 6 weeks during the summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are colorful and may be in shades of green, purple, pink, silver, or variegated. Depending on the species, the leaves may be long, narrow, blade-like, narrowly elliptic, or lanceolate. They may be spirally arranged or 2-ranked, They are rarely petiolate. The leaf surface may be smooth or hairy.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Most species have trailing or vining habit, and the stems are long, slender. Some species may grow upright and form clumps. The stems may be green or purple.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Contact with the leaves or sap of some species can cause minor skin irritation, itching and redness in humans and pets. If ingested, it may cause mild mouth and stomach irritation.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Unidentified
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems