Cyanotis somaliensis, Tradescantia somaliensis

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Cyanotis somaliensis (Furry Kittens), a plant native to Eastern Africa, Rwanda, Somalia, is an evergreen perennial related to Tradescantia. It is known for its tolerance to dry conditions, bright blue or lavender-purple flowers and most notably, densely ranked, lance-shaped leaves that are almost hidden by the hairy trail of its stems. It can be grown in USDA Zone 10-11.

Cyanotis somaliensis is an easy and forgiving plant to grow requiring little effort in terms ofplant care. It is best suited for a brightly lit spot away from direct sunlight and for the pot to be in semi-shade conditions. Compost should be kept moist at all time, and the plant should be misted regularly for optimal growth. When it comes to watering, liberally from spring to autumn and sparingly in winter. When it comes to propagation, cuttings can be taken from the stems.

Cyanotis somaliensis' growth varies depending on climate, such that in warm regions, it can be a groundcover, reaching low-growing of 2ft, while in colder regions, it may take the form of a small shrub, reaching 2-5 ft. With this said, when planting in cold regions, in addition to the care previously mentioned, some extra protection may be needed, such as mulching and additional layers for the pot when temperatures drop to make sure the plant receives enough warmth.

Similar plants:

• Cyanotis beddomei, Cyanotis kewensis (Teddy Bear Vine)
• Cyanotis speciosa (Doll's Powderpuff, Wandering Jew)
• Tradescantia albiflora, Tradescantia fluminensis (Inch Plant, White-Flowered Wandering Jew)
• Tradescantia navicularis (Chain Plant )
• Tradescantia pallida, Setcreasea pallida (Purple heart, Purple queen)
• Tradescantia sillamontana (White Velvet, White Gossamer, Cobweb Spiderwort)
• Tradescantia sp. (Tradescantia, Spiderwort)
• Tradescantia spathacea, Rhoeo spathacea, Tradescantia discolor (Boat lily, Rheo, Oyster plant, Moses-In-The-Boat)
• Tradescantia virginiana, Tradescantia x andersoniana (Virginia Spiderwort, Lady's Tears)
• Tradescantia zanonia, Commelina zanonia (Mexican Flag)