Is this plant safe for pets?

No, it is known to be toxic to cats and dogs, often causing skin irritation.

How often should I water it?

Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy, allowing the top inch to dry out slightly between waterings.

Plant guide

Small-leaf spiderwort.

Tradescantia fluminensis

Pronounced trad-es-KAN-tee-uh floo-min-EN-sis

Also known as Small-leaf Spiderwort, Small-leaf Wandering Jew, Wandering Jew, Wandering-Jew, small-leaved spiderwort, smallleaf spiderwort, spiderwort

Rio Spiderwort — Photo by Greg Tasney (CC BY-SA) via iNaturalist

This trailing plant is a popular choice for hanging baskets because of its fast growth and lovely foliage. It's a classic houseplant that's super easy to propagate from stem cuttings. You'll love how it spills over the edges of its pot.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial
Light: Bright indirect light is best for keeping the colors vibrant.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet long
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root rot. If the stems get too leggy, just trim them back to encourage a bushier shape. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant is sitting in too much water.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems to maintain a compact and full appearance.
Repotting: Move to a slightly larger pot once the roots fill the current container.
Soil: Well draining potting mix
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: 5 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years with regular propagation.
Deer and rabbits: Low

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in
Stunted growth despite proper care

Safety

People: The sap can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals due to calcium oxalate crystals.
Pets: This plant is considered mildly toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant away from small children as the sap can irritate the skin and the leaves may cause mouth irritation if chewed.
Contact allergens: The sap contains calcium oxalate crystals which can cause skin irritation or rashes upon contact.
Airborne allergens: There are no significant reports of airborne allergens for this species.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and may cause irritation if ingested.

How to identify it

Oval shaped glossy green leaves
Trailing stems with alternating leaves
Small white three petaled flowers
Stems root easily at nodes

Height: 0.1 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.3 to 1m
Leaves: green, evergreen
Flowers: white, 1 to 2cm

Problems to watch for

Aphids · Small insects that cluster on new growth and suck plant juices.
Root rot · Occurs when the soil stays too wet for too long, causing roots to decay.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, division
When to plant: spring, summer, autumn
Overwintering: Bring containers indoors before the first frost. Keep in a bright, cool location and reduce watering during the winter months.
In containers: It is an excellent choice for hanging baskets or containers where its trailing stems can cascade over the edges.

Stem Cuttings

1. Snip a 4 to 6 inch stem section just below a leaf node.
2. Remove the lower leaves from the cutting.
3. Place the stem in a glass of water or directly into moist potting soil.
4. Roots will typically appear within a week or two.

Because this plant is so aggressive, it is best grown in containers rather than directly in the ground to prevent it from taking over your garden.

Grows well with

Ferns · They share similar requirements for shade and consistent moisture.
Hostas · They provide a nice textural contrast in shaded garden beds.

Similar species

Purple Heart · It is a close relative with similar growth habits but striking purple foliage.

Science

Family: Commelinaceae
Genus: Tradescantia
Order: Commelinales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: South America, specifically Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.
Conservation: It is considered a significant environmental weed in many regions and is often subject to eradication programs.

It grows as a trailing perennial in moist, shaded forest understories, spreading rapidly through rooting stem nodes.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: groundcover, hanging basket plant, indoor houseplant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 3/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 7/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this plant safe for pets?: No, it is known to be toxic to cats and dogs, often causing skin irritation.
How often should I water it?: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy, allowing the top inch to dry out slightly between waterings.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors the Tradescant family, while the species name fluminensis refers to the Rio de Janeiro region.

Good to know

It is commonly known as wandering dude or inch plant because of how easily it roots from stem fragments.
The genus is named after John Tradescant, a gardener to King Charles I of England.
It thrives in deep shade where many other groundcovers struggle.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

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This guide was generated with AI on November 3, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.