Cyanotis somaliensis, Tradescantia somaliensis

Evergreen perennials, related to Tradescantia, but more succulent and with greater tolerance to dry conditions. The trailing stems are almost hidden by hairy, densely ranked, lance-shaped leaves. Brightly lit spot away from direct sunlight. Keep compost moist at all time. Misting is necessary. Water liberally from spring to autumn. Water sparingly in the winter. Propagation: Cuttings.

Tradescantia albiflora, Tradescantia fluminensis

Very tiny leaves from 0.5 to 1 inch long. Very easy to grow, fast growing, perfect ground cover, this pretty plant is great when you need to cover soil in pots where large plants planted. It is suitable for growing indoors and in hanging baskets. Will take both sun or shade. Handling plant may cause skin irritation. May be a noxious weed or invasive.

Tradescantia navicularis

Creeping stems rooting at nodes; grey-green, distichous, boat-shaped leaves covered with fine hairs. Evergreen

Succulent. Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping.

Tradescantia pallida, Setcreasea pallida

This sprawling evergreen groundcover produces deep purple foliage and stems when grown in full sun. The rather brittle stems, a foot or more high, have a tendency to flop over, creating a trailing effect which lends itself nicely to informal planting beds, rock gardens, or containers. The rather inconspicuous, three-petalled, pale pink, one-inch flowers are produced from the tips of stems and last only one morning. Will turn dark green if in poor light. Propagation: Cuttings.

Tradescantia sillamontana

Fuzzy leaved spiderwort, appearing as if its leaves were covered with spiderwebs. Silver green leaves frosted with white fuzzy cobwebbing whorled around upright stems. Low growing and spreading, to 10-12" x 18", with striking magenta flowers in summer through autumn. Showy in containers or the garden. Unusual little plant for the rock garden, a pot or the top of a wall.

Found in the mountains of northern Mexico, they prefer sun and are easy growers, needing little water and generally thriving on.

Sun to light shade, well drained soils, water sparingly, don't overwater. This is a plant that enjoys neglect and mixes well with succulents.

Far hardier than appears, this overwinters at light freeze (zone 7B).

Tradescantia sp.

Tradescantia spathacea, Rhoeo spathacea, Tradescantia discolor

Herb with succulent stems; leaves crowded, flat, stiff, pointed, dark green above, purple to green below; flowers at base of leaves, small, white, 3-parted, held between 2 purple bracts; fruit a capsule. Can be used to make a dense groundcover, as houseplant or in interiorscape. Watery sap can cause contact dermatitis, avoid getting sap on skin.

Tradescantia virginiana, Tradescantia x andersoniana

This group of hybrids covers a range of plants formerly listed under Tradescantia x andersoniana or Tradescantia virginiana. They are mainly low-growing perennials with fleshy, strap-like leaves.

Blue to violet-blue, rarely rose or white, flowers, lasting only a day, 0.75 to 1.5 inches (1.9-3.7 cm), from late spring to mid-summer.

Tradescantia zanonia, Commelina zanonia

A tropical foliage plant from Mexico, that looks like a ginger but is related to Rheo. The broad wide leaves have a strong white variegation.

Tradescantia zebrina, Zebrina pendula

The Zebrina is a relatively common house plant from Tropical Americas. It is not as robust as the similar looking Tradescantia fluminensis. The species name "pendula" means "hanging".It grows outside in summer if you have a shaded, humid location in the garden. Avoid touching the watery sap of the Zebrina, since it can be a cause of skin inflammation. The flowers are inconspicuous white to pink.

The Zebrina grows rapidly if given enough water and fertilizer. The variety 'Quadricolor' has a lot of purple, but needs more sun to keep its color intensity. Frost Tolerance: Hardy to 32F. No direct sun, keep in a humid area, light shade, needs a lot of light indoor. Needs regular watering. Growth Habits: Groundcover, 6-12in tall.

Propagation: Cuttings that root easily in water.