We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Tradescantia?

Niki Acker
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,618
Share

Tradescantia is a genus of about 70 species of flowering perennial plants, commonly called the spiderworts. Other common names of Tradescantia species include cradle-lily, flowering inch plant, oyster-plant, and spider-lily. They are native to parts of North, Central, and South America, ranging from southern Canada to northern Argentina. The plant takes its name from two 17th century English naturalists, father and son, named John Tradescant.

Tradescantia usually feature bright blue, three-petaled flowers with six yellow anthers, though some species have white, pink, or purple flowers. In many species, the flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon. The plant is sometimes considered a weed, though it is also cultivated as both a garden plant and a potted plant. It is popular as a border plant in gardens.

Tradescantia virginiana, or Virginia spiderwort, was the first Tradescantia species described. It is native to the eastern United States, as well as southern Ontario, Canada. T. virginiana was introduced to Europe in 1629 and has been cultivated as a garden plant ever since. T. ohiensis is the most common Tradescantia species growing in the wild in the United States. It shares much of its range with T. virginiana, but also extends west to Texas and Kansas.

Three species of Tradescantia, T. fluminensis, T. pallida, and T. zebrina, share the common name Wandering Jew, after a character of Christian folklore. All three species have the tendency to become invasive species, but they are also cultivated as houseplants. T. fluminensis is native to South America, while T. pallida and T. zebrina are both native to Mexico.

T. fluminensis has white flowers, and T. zebrina has magenta flowers and distinctive sliver stripes on its leaves. T. pallida, sometimes called Purple Heart or Purple Queen after the color of its leaves and flowers, can improve indoor air quality when kept as a houseplant. T. pallida sometimes has white or pink flowers. The watery sap of T. zebrina can cause skin irritation, though the plant is also used to make an herbal tea called Matali in the Tabasco region of Mexico.

Some Tradescantia plants, including T. occidentalis or the Western spiderwort, feature flowers with blue stamen hairs. In the presence of ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays or neutron radiation, the stamen hairs become pink as a result of their cells mutating. Therefore, spiderwort species with this feature can be used to identify radiation in an environment.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Niki Acker
By Niki Acker
"In addition to her role as a WiseGeek editor, Niki Foster is passionate about educating herself on a wide range of interesting and unusual topics to gather ideas for her own articles. A graduate of UCLA with a double major in Linguistics and Anthropology, Niki's diverse academic background and curiosity make her well-suited to create engaging content for WiseGeekreaders. "

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Niki Acker
Niki Acker
"In addition to her role as a WiseGeek editor, Niki Foster is passionate about educating herself on a wide range of...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-tradescantia.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.