How to Grow Tradescantia Plants

Guide to Growing Spiderwort, Wandering Jew, and Trinity flower

Tradescantia are grown in the garden as hardy or half hardy perennials.

They range in height from 30 to 90 cm.

Many Tradescantia species have attractive foliage, which may be variegated or a lovely plummy purple colour.

Plants bloom in the summer, and with a little effort can be encouraged to bloom a second time in the autumn.

Some Tradescantia species carry beautiful tri-petalled flowers; these may be purple, blue or white.

Common names for Tradescantia include Spiderwort, Wandering Jew and Trinity flower.

How to Grow Spiderwort and Other Tradescantia

The seeds of Tradescantia plants such as Trinity flower, Wandering jew, and Spiderwort can be sown outdoors in either autumn or in early spring. The seeds should be lightly covered once sown. Depending upon their size Tradescantia should be spaced from 30 to 45 cm apart. Ideally the soil that they grow in will be moist, rich, well drained and acidic (pH 5 to 6). The plants do best in a partially shaded are but will tolerate sunny areas as long as the soil is kept moist.

If starting plants indoors, then sow about seven weeks in advance. It should take from 10 days to 6 weeks for Tradescantia seeds to germinate at a temperature of about 20 degrees centigrade. Transplant them outdoors about a week after the last frost of spring.

Caring for Tradescantia Plants

It is easy to care for Tradescantia species. They like a moist soil so water regularly. Cutting back once they have flowered should result in a second bloom in the autumn.

To maintain vigorous growth, plants should be divided every three years. Cut back dead foliage.

If you require more plants then they can be propagated by division in the spring.