Tradescantia fluminensis: Country Or Region Of Origin
SE. & S. Brazil to N. Argentina
Plant Profile: Tradescantia fluminensis
Taxonomy: Tradescantia fluminensisNames
Giant White Inch Plant, Inch Plant, Small-Leaf Spiderwort, Speedy Henry, Variegated Laurel, Variegated Wandering Jew, Wandering Jew, White Inch Plant, Wondering Jew
Phonetic Spelling:trad-es-KAN-tee-uh floo-min-EN-sis
Genus:Tradescantia
Species:fluminensis
Family:Commelinaceae
The inch plant is a perennial groundcover that remains green year-round and features a trailing growth habit. When cultivated outdoors, it can take root at each node, leading to its invasive nature. In regions with colder temperatures, it serves well as a houseplant, and its sprawling appearance makes it particularly appealing in hanging baskets. While it is primarily valued for its attractive foliage, it produces flowers that only last for a single day. Varieties with variegated leaves are also available.
Due to its invasive characteristics, the inch plant is often classified as a noxious weed or pest in various locations, prompting efforts for its removal. Areas significantly impacted by its spread include Australia, New Zealand, and the southeastern United States.
Quick Identification
Tradescantia fluminensis Feature Summary
Tradescantia fluminensis Image Gallery
Tags
#evergreen
#houseplant
#weedy
#showy leaves
#interiorscape
#low maintenance
#hanging baskets
#trailing
#fantz
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#container plants
Similar Plants
Tradescantia fluminensis is often confused with:
Tradescantia fluminensis Feature Summary
Attributes
SE. & S. Brazil to N. Argentina
Perennial
Stem Cutting
Flowers
Inflorescence is a one-sided cyme, terminal or axillary, <2 in peduncles, hidden by 2 leafy bracts. Flowers are white, <1 in, with 3 equal petals and 3 sepals, subtended by a pair of boat-shaped bracts. Rarely flowers as a houseplant.
White
2-3 rays/petals
Star
< 1 inch
Leaves
2-3 inch long leaves are alternate, distichate, simple, ovate-oblong, acute, blade sessile with a closed sheath. Green with purplish undersides.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
White
Purple/Lavender
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
Oblong
Entire
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Stem
Stems are ascending, decumbent or trailing, rooting at nodes. Nodes are 1 inch apart, hence the common name.
Whole Plant Traits
Herbaceous Perennial
Ground Cover
Broadleaf Evergreen
Spreading
Cascading
Rapid
Low
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
12 inches-3 feet
Less than 12 inches
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Container
Houseplants
Hanging Baskets
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Weedy
Tradescantia fluminensis Image Gallery
Tradescantia fluminensis Attributes
Tradescantia fluminensis: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Tradescantia fluminensis: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Tradescantia fluminensis Flowers
Tradescantia fluminensis: Flower Description
Inflorescence is a one-sided cyme, terminal or axillary, <2 in peduncles, hidden by 2 leafy bracts. Flowers are white, <1 in, with 3 equal petals and 3 sepals, subtended by a pair of boat-shaped bracts. Rarely flowers as a houseplant.
Tradescantia fluminensis: Flower Color
White
Tradescantia fluminensis: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Tradescantia fluminensis: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Tradescantia fluminensis: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Tradescantia fluminensis: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Tradescantia fluminensis Leaves
Tradescantia fluminensis: Leaf Description
2-3 inch long leaves are alternate, distichate, simple, ovate-oblong, acute, blade sessile with a closed sheath. Green with purplish undersides.
Tradescantia fluminensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Tradescantia fluminensis: Leaf Color
Green
Purple/Lavender
White
Tradescantia fluminensis: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Tradescantia fluminensis: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Tradescantia fluminensis: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Tradescantia fluminensis: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Tradescantia fluminensis: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Tradescantia fluminensis: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Tradescantia fluminensis: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Tradescantia fluminensis: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Tradescantia fluminensis Stem
Tradescantia fluminensis: Stem Description
Stems are ascending, decumbent or trailing, rooting at nodes. Nodes are 1 inch apart, hence the common name.
Tradescantia fluminensis: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Tradescantia fluminensis Whole Plant Traits
Tradescantia fluminensis: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Tradescantia fluminensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Tradescantia fluminensis: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Tradescantia fluminensis: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Tradescantia fluminensis: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Tradescantia fluminensis Cultural Conditions
Tradescantia fluminensis: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Tradescantia fluminensis: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Tradescantia fluminensis: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Tradescantia fluminensis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
9a
9b
Tradescantia fluminensis: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Tradescantia fluminensis Landscape
Tradescantia fluminensis: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Tradescantia fluminensis: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
