Commelinaceae

Small, rounded, stacked leaves on trailing stems. Deep green with purple undersides. Dense, compact growth habit that forms a thick mat — different in character from the more open trailing of Tradescantia. Very easy to propagate — stem segments root on contact with moist soil, making it one of the fastest-spreading small trailing plants available. Tolerates lower light than most Tradescantia.

Cream and pink variegation on the small leaves. More light-hungry than the plain form to maintain the cream and pink coloring — in lower light it reverts toward plain green. Otherwise identical in habit and care to standard repens. One of the more refined-looking small trailing plants available.

Silver and purple striped leaves with a vivid purple underside. The silver stripe on the upper surface and the purple underside give it a distinctive iridescent quality in good light. Requires bright indirect light to maintain the contrast. In lower light the silver fades and the overall appearance becomes dull purple-green. One of the most widely cultivated Tradescantia and one of the most striking in good light.

Deep, vivid purple leaves and stems — the most intensely purple commonly available houseplant. Requires the most light of the Tradescantia to maintain the color. In lower light it goes a muddy green-purple and loses its primary appeal. Small pink flowers. More drought-tolerant than most Tradescantia due to slightly thicker leaf tissue. One of the most dramatic trailing plants for a sunny position.

Small, glossy, mid-green leaves on fast-trailing stems. The most vigorous and least demanding Tradescantia in terms of light — genuinely tolerates lower light without losing its character. Considered invasive in New Zealand, Australia, and parts of South America — do not plant outdoors or release cuttings into soil in these regions.

Dense, white, silky hairs covering the entire plant surface — the most textured Tradescantia in common cultivation and the most visually distinctive. More succulent-like in its drought tolerance due to the trichome covering reducing water loss. Requires bright light to maintain the dense hair covering. Produces small pink-purple flowers. Completely different in character from the smooth-leaved species despite belonging to the same genus.

Upright, rosette-forming habit rather than trailing — the most structurally different Tradescantia from the standard trailing form. Dark green upper leaf surface with a vivid purple underside. Produces small white flowers nestled in boat-shaped bracts at the base of the leaves — the source of the name. More tolerant of low light than most purple Tradescantia while maintaining the purple underside. One of the more architectural options in the genus.

Patented cultivar with pink, white, and green striped leaves on compact, bushy stems. The most vivid multi-color Tradescantia widely available and one of the most popular houseplant cultivars of recent years. More compact and bushy than the standard trailing species. Requires bright indirect light to maintain the pink intensity. In lower light it goes progressively more green. The patent means it cannot be legally propagated for sale, though personal propagation for non-commercial use is standard practice.

White-striped leaves on the standard fluminensis. More light-hungry than the plain green form to maintain the striping — in low light the white fades and the plant reverts toward plain green. Otherwise identical in habit and care to standard fluminensis. Same invasive caution applies — do not release outdoors in warm climates.

Deeper, more uniformly burgundy-purple with less silver striping than standard zebrina. More intensely colored but requires even more light to maintain the deep tone. In lower light it goes a muddy brownish green. Otherwise identical in care to standard zebrina.

Small, compact, boat-shaped succulent-textured leaves. More drought-tolerant than most Tradescantia due to the thick, water-storing leaf tissue. The most succulent of the commonly cultivated species. Compact trailing habit. Produces pink flowers. Requires less frequent watering than other Tradescantia — treat more like a succulent than a standard trailing plant.