Fauna
Plant

Zebra Spiderwort

Tradescantia zebrina

Also known as Silver Inch Plant, Wandering Dude, Wandering Jew, Striped Tradescantia

Zebra spiderwort features striking lance-shaped leaves striped with silver bands and framed by vivid magenta edges and undersides. Trailing fleshy stems quickly root at nodes wherever they touch moist soil, allowing dense creeping mats to carpet tropical forest floors. Small three-petaled pink flowers blossom intermittently along stem tips in sunny conditions.

Foliage PlantTrailingEvergreen
Zebra Spiderwort reference1 / 7
(c) Ricard Busquets Reverte, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ricard Busquets Reverte · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Snails
  • Slugs
  • Spider mites
ThreatsFreezing temperatures, habitat conversion
HabitatsTropical rainforest understory, moist rocky banks, cultivated indoors
Life spanPerennial (indefinite via clonal spread)
Classification
  1. OrderCommelinales
  2. FamilyCommelinaceae
  3. GenusTradescantia
  4. SpeciesTradescantia zebrina
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Sap contains irritants toxic to dogs and cats if chewed; keep out of pet reach.
Why it is dangerous
Sap contains calcium oxalate crystals and microscopic irritants that cause skin redness or mild gastrointestinal distress in domestic pets.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by creeping stems with silver-striped leaves and rich purple leaf undersides.
What to do
Wear gloves when trimming heavy growth and place indoor plants high out of pet reach.
Responsible observation
  • Lighting: Place in bright indirect light to preserve vivid silver and purple foliage colors.
  • Propagation: Snip healthy stem cuttings and insert into moist potting soil to start new roots.
  • Pet Placement: Position pots in elevated hanging baskets to keep stems away from inquisitive animals.
Related species
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