John&Jacq~s Garden

Striking tricolor foliage of Tradescantia bermudensis ‘Variegata’

Tradescantia bermudensis ‘Variegata’ (Variegated Oyster/Boat Plant) –

Plant Profile, Culture and Propagation :

• Botanical Name: Tradescantia bermudensis ‘Variegata’ or Tradescantia spathacea ‘Hawaiian Dwarf’ (synonym: Rhoeo bermudensis variegata, Rhoeo spathacea nana variegata)
• Common Name: Variegated Oyster Plant, Variegated Boat Lily/Plant, Variegated Moses-in-the-basket, Variegated Moses-in-the-cradle
• Family name: Commelinaceae
• Plant type: An ornamental perennial succulent herb, native to Tropical Central America.
• Light: Full sun to partial sun. Can tolerate shade but result in pale-colored leaves.
• Moisture: Regular watering and moderately. Drought tolerant once established.
• Soil: Well-drained loamy soil. Prefers fertile composted soils, though can tolerate less acceptable conditions.
• Propagation: This dwarf variegated cultivar of Tradecantia bermudensis ‘Variegata’ is sterile and non-seeding, thus propagated by division of its rhizomes or offsets.
  It can also be propagated from herbaceous stem cuttings too that root easily. See the right image – there’s a stem hanging down outside the pot with 3 young offshoots. To propagate, I could have easily pluck them and push into potting soil to let them spread. It’s that easy! Even those plants in the pot can be done likewise.
• Features: Tradescantia spathacea ‘Hawaiian Dwarf’ is a short and compact herbaceous plant that grows moderately to a height of 0.5-1 foot (15-30cm) with a similar spread. It has a clump-forming habit, self-propagating by offshoots from fleshy rhizomes (rootstock).
  Each plant forms a rosette of stunning tricolor foliage of white, green and a tinge of pink on the upper side of leaves, with pinkish purple undersides. Its variegated leaves are short, 4-6 ins (10-16cm) long, stiff and blade-like, smooth-textured and closely overlapping around stout herbaceous stem, offsetting to form a striking and colorful colony.
• Usage: Variegated Oyster Plant ‘Pink’ is popularly grown for its colorful foliage and texture attributes. Being compact and low-growing, it will be most ideal as a ground cover or front-of-the-border grouping in garden beds or borders. Great specimen for landscaping too. Also, very suitable for planting in combination planters and hanging baskets. As a houseplant, it’ll look lovely in small ceramic pots.
• Care: Tradescantia bermudensis ‘Variegata’ is an easy care plant. Requires no pruning whatsoever as it is a dwarf cultivar and is least bothered by pests or diseases. If the colony of plants gets too big over time, just remove stray or excess plants by plucking them off or cutting straight into the clumps with a spade and plant them elsewhere or discard them. Preferably, grow it in hot and sunny areas as it just love the sun and do not overwater as it can cause root rot.
• For temperate zones: Hardiness – USDA Zone 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b and 11. More information here

Variegated Moses-in-the-basket was added to our garden in August 2005. I recall its entry so vividly as it was love at first sight when we first saw its stunning variegated foliage at a nursery in Cameron Highlands during our vacation holiday there. Usually, plants purchased from the cool highlands rarely thrive long in our humid and hot lowlands, but this is one tough survivor! But of course, we found out later from the internet that it is a sun-loving plant! No wonder! :D

Nonetheless, it thrives very well in our tropical garden and from a single plant, it has multiplied itself many times over, generously ‘throwing’ countless offsets to our greatest pleasure. We have more than enough free plants for our garden, to last a lifetime, as well as to share them with friends and neighbours.

Researching to write this article, I came to know that the traditional Tradescantia spathacea (Rhoeo discolor) with dark green upper surfaces and purple under surfaces has been classified as an invasive weed in Florida and can also cause itching or skin rashes from contact with plant surfaces or the copious astringent juice. Read the well documented and enriching manual by UF/IFAS Center of Aquatic and Invasive Plants to know more (about this plant, go to Pages 24 & 25). Well, I don’t think that these characteristics apply to the dwarf variegated cultivar that we grow – ours look so well-contained on ground and I’ve not been affected all these 2.5 years with any skin allergy from plant contact. Fingers crossed!! ;)

Last edit: May 30, 2016

Tags: foliage plants, groundcovers, indoor plants, outdoor plants, perennials, succulents, variegated plants