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Tradescantia fluminensis

small-leaf spiderwort

Commelinaceae Southeastern Brazil and Argentina

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Tradescantia fluminensis is a trailing evergreen perennial with fleshy, smooth stems 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) long that creep along the ground and root at the nodes, forming dense mats 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) deep. The glossy leaves are oval to lance-shaped, 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, dark green and slightly succulent, clasping the stem at the base. Small white flowers with three triangular petals, about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across, open in clusters in spring and summer; in many naturalised populations the plant rarely sets seed and spreads almost entirely by stem fragments. Growth is rapid in warm, moist shade. Outside its native range it has become an invasive weed, smothering ground flora in forests and gardens, and even small stem pieces can regenerate. Contact with the sap causes allergic dermatitis in some dogs. The mats hold moisture and exclude other low-growing plants.

Native Range

Native to southeastern Brazil and adjacent Argentina, where it grows on shaded, moist forest floors and stream banks. It has naturalised widely in warm-temperate and subtropical regions, including eastern Australia, New Zealand, southern Africa, and the southeastern United States.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a shade groundcover and as a trailing container or hanging-basket plant in frost-free gardens and indoors. Its vigorous spread and weed status make it unsuitable for planting near bushland or natural waterways in many regions, where it is instead targeted for control. Confined containers limit its tendency to escape.

How to Identify

Recognized by fleshy trailing stems that root at the nodes, glossy dark green oval leaves 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long that clasp the stem, and small white three-petalled flowers 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across. The smooth, hairless leaves and stems separate it from the hairy-leaved Tradescantia zebrina, which also has purple-striped foliage.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 10"

Width/Spread2' - 5'

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers from spring through summer, mainly October to March in the southern hemisphere, opening on warm mornings and closing by afternoon. Flowering is sparse in deep shade. In many introduced populations seed is rarely produced, and reproduction is almost entirely vegetative.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 1-4 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in part to full shade in moist, humus-rich soil and spreads rapidly by rooting stems. It tolerates low light and a range of soils but is killed by hard frost and prolonged drought. In frost-free climates growth continues year-round and the mats deepen quickly. Stem fragments left on moist soil readily form new plants, which is the main means of spread. It is classed as an environmental weed in several countries, and its sap causes skin and eye irritation in some dogs and people.

Pruning

Cutting or mowing the mats does not kill the plant, as fragments resprout from the nodes. Complete removal requires lifting all stem and root material, since pieces left behind regenerate. Repeated removal over several seasons is needed to exhaust an established patch.