Tradescantia zebrina
FAMILY NAME Commelinaceae
CHARACTERISTICS Fleshy, evergreen, oval or lance-shaped leaves up to 10cm (4in) long with pointed tips
HABITAT Rural and urban areas
DISTRIBUTION Native to Mexico, Central America and Colombia
FLOWERS AND FRUIT Small, three-petalled flowers in summer
A species of Spiderwort, Inch Plant stems can grow around an 25 millimetres (1 inch) every week. New leaves look purple but eventually turn green, whilst the underside remains a deep magenta hue. The plant is also known as the ‘Wandering Jew’ because of an old legend about a Jewish man who was cursed to walk the earth forever. In time the man wandered everywhere, which is a nod to the abundance of this plant and its ability to spread rapidly, like the man who covered the entire earth.