Why are my leaves losing their color?

It likely needs more bright, indirect light to maintain its vibrant variegation.

How often should I water it?

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Plant guide

Planta cebra.

Tradescantia zebrina

Pronounced tra-des-KAN-tee-uh ze-BREE-nuh

Also known as Inchplant, Inchplant, Wandering jew, Cockroach grass, Purple wandering Jew, Silver inch plant, Striped trad, Striped wandering creeper, Striped wandering Jew, Wandering zebrina, Zebra plant, wandering-Jew, Inch-plant, Creeping Charlie, Wandering Jew, Zebra Plant

Tradescantia zebrina — Photo by 五色鳥 (CC BY) via gbif

The inch plant is a fast growing trailing beauty that adds a splash of purple and silver to any room. It is quite easy to care for and looks lovely in a hanging basket. You will find it grows quickly when it gets enough light.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Light: Bright indirect light is best for keeping those vibrant leaf colors.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 30 to 60 cm
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Spring to summer

Care

Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy to prevent root rot. Watch for leggy stems, which usually mean the plant is craving more light. You can easily pinch back the tips to encourage a bushier shape.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems regularly to maintain a compact and full appearance.
Repotting: Repot when the plant becomes root bound or the soil loses its structure.
Soil: Well draining peat based potting mix
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 10 to 27°C
Humidity: 40 to 60%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 2 to 5 years
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot.
Stunted growth during the active season.

Safety

People: The sap can cause skin irritation or dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Pets: This plant is mildly toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant away from small children as the sap can cause mouth and skin irritation.
Contact allergens: The clear sap contains calcium oxalate crystals that may irritate skin upon contact.
Airborne allergens: There are no notable airborne allergens associated with this plant.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and may cause stomach upset if ingested.

How to identify it

Trailing stems with succulent texture
Leaves feature silver and purple stripes
Underside of leaves is deep magenta
Small three petaled purple flowers

Height: 0.15 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: purple, silver, green, evergreen
Flowers: pink, purple, 1 to 2cm

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Root RotCommon
Fungus GnatsUncommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
MealybugsUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, division
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Bring containers indoors before the first frost. Place in a bright window and reduce watering during the cooler months.
In containers: It grows beautifully in hanging baskets or pots, provided they have drainage holes.

Stem Cuttings

1. Snip a 4 inch stem just below a leaf node.
2. Remove the lower leaves.
3. Place the stem in a jar of water.
4. Once roots are 2 cm long, plant in potting soil.

Group plants with similar water needs to make your care routine much simpler.

Grows well with

Pothos · They share similar light and water requirements for easy maintenance.
Peace Lily · They both enjoy consistent moisture and indirect light.

Similar species

Spiderwort · It is a hardy perennial relative with similar flower structure.

Science

Family: Commelinaceae
Genus: Tradescantia
Order: Commelinales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Mexico and Central America
Conservation: This species is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in warm, humid forest understories where it spreads as a trailing ground cover.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: hanging baskets, ground cover, houseplant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

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

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are my leaves losing their color?: It likely needs more bright, indirect light to maintain its vibrant variegation.
How often should I water it?: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors John Tradescant, a royal gardener, while the species name refers to the zebra like stripes on the foliage.

Good to know

It is commonly known as the inch plant because of its fast growth rate.
The leaves fold up at night.
It is very easy to propagate from stem cuttings in water.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your planta cebra growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.