The Silver Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina), also known as Inch Plant, is a hardy, perennial herbaceous plant with ornamental foliage, native to Mexico and Central America. Its stems and branches grow low to the ground in a prostrate, branching pattern, forming a tangled ground cover that reaches about 10 inches (25 cm) in height. As it grows, new roots emerge from the internodes, which root upon contact with the soil, helping to spread the plant as ground cover, allowing it to expand indefinitely along the horizontal plane.
Its leaves are highly decorative – oval, glossy, with a dark green color and fleshy texture, featuring two silver-striped variegations on the upper surface, and a fully purple underside. The flowers are small and pink, with secondary ornamental value.
Due to its compact appearance, small size, and adaptability to shade, Wandering Jew is an excellent ground cover for shaded and semi-shaded locations where lawns struggle to thrive, such as under tree canopies and other sheltered spots. There is also a cultivar named ‘Purpusii’, which has even more compact growth (shorter internodal spacing) and more intense reddish coloration.
In landscaping, Inch Plant is especially valued as a resilient ground cover with rapid growth, low cost, and primarily for its vivid contrasts in both color and texture with other plants. In addition to being used as ground cover, it can be placed in the foreground or second row, creating varied heights alongside other species with green or gray tones, forming rich visual contrasts.
Its use in pots, planters, and hanging baskets is also appreciated, showcasing its beautiful, rounded, cascading foliage. Recently, its popularity has increased in vertical gardens, where it creates a lush, filling effect. In these cases, light fertilization and regular watering encourage lush growth. However, excessive fertilization, especially with nitrogen, will result in vigorous growth, requiring regular pruning and high maintenance.
Due to its ability to propagate vegetatively with ease, this species can easily escape cultivation and invade areas where it is not desired. It quickly spreads across forest litter, as well as marginal areas, potentially smothering native vegetation.
It should be cultivated in semi-shade or shade, in fertile soil enriched with organic matter, kept moist. As a typically tropical plant, it is not tolerant of extreme cold or frost but adapts very well to greenhouse environments in temperate climates. Refresh planting beds every two to three years with new cuttings from mature plants to restore vigor. Prune as needed to control growth. Plants grown in full sun develop a more compact and reddish appearance compared to those grown in semi-shade. It propagates easily through cuttings or by dividing rooted branches.
