Inch Plant

The Inch Plant, Tradescantia zebrina, is a fast-spreading trailing plant grown for its striking foliage: leaves striped in silver and green on top with deep purple undersides, often shimmering with a metallic sheen. The name "inch plant" comes from both its rapid growth and the roughly inch-spaced leaf nodes.

It is extremely easy to grow and propagate, rooting from almost any stem piece. Its vivid color and vigor make it a popular hanging-basket and groundcover plant, though it can become invasive outdoors in warm climates.

Identify it by trailing stems of pointed-oval leaves striped silver and green above with purple undersides.

• Leaves: oval with pointed tips, 3 to 5 cm, two silver stripes on green, vivid purple beneath
• Stems: succulent, trailing, jointed, rooting at the nodes
• Habit: fast-growing trailer; can become leggy if underlit
• Flowers: small three-petaled pink to purple blooms

Give bright indirect light, with a little direct sun, to keep the purple and silver vivid; in low light the color fades and stems stretch.

• Water: when the top inch of soil dries; somewhat drought-tolerant thanks to fleshy stems
• Soil: well-draining potting mix
• Temperature: 18 to 27 C; keep above 10 C
• Feeding: light monthly feeding in the growing season
• Propagation: extremely easy; stem cuttings root in water or soil within days
• Tip: pinch regularly to prevent legginess

Native to Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, where it grows as a fast-spreading groundcover in warm, humid conditions. It has naturalized and become an invasive weed in many tropical and subtropical regions. Indoors it is a popular, easy trailing houseplant worldwide.

Grown as a colorful ornamental trailing houseplant and warm-climate groundcover. Its bright foliage suits hanging baskets and shelves. The sap can cause skin irritation in some people and pets, and it is considered mildly toxic, so handle with a little care.