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Tradescantia spathacea (Boat lily )
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.3m
Max height
Max height
0.6m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Tradescantia spathacea
Other names
Boat lily , Christ in the manger, Cradle lily , Men in a boat, Moses in the cradle, Moses in his cradle, Moses in the bulrushes, Moses on a raft, Oyster plant, Prayer plant, Purple-leaved spiderwort, Three men in a boat, Boatlily, Rhoeo discolor, Rhoeo spathacea, Moses-in-a-basket
Genus
Tradescantia Tradescantia
Species
T. spathacea - T. spathacea is a tender, compact, clump-forming, evergreen perennial with rosettes of semi-erect, fleshy, linear to lance-shaped, dark green leaves, dark purple beneath, and, throughout the year, cymes of white flowers surrounded by prominent, persistent, purple bracts.
Tradescantia spathacea is: Evergreen
Habit
Clump-forming, Rosette
Toxicity
Contact with sap may irritate skin.
Flower
Dark-purple, White in All seasons
Foliage
Dark-purple, Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Specific pests
Vine weevil , Aphids Vine weevil , Aphids
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
May become invasive in ideal growing conditions.
Propagation methods
Division, Stem tip cuttings
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Where to grow
Tradescantia spathacea (Boat lily ) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, City, Conservatory, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Greenhouse, Low Maintenance, Sub-Tropical, Underplanting
Cultivation
In frost-free areas, grow in fertile, moist soil in sun or shade. Direct, intense summer sun may scorch leaves. Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in bright filtered light. In growth, water moderately & feed monthly with a low-nitrogen fertiliser.
Soil type
Sandy, Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Tradescantia spathacea
Other names
Boat lily , Christ in the manger, Cradle lily , Men in a boat, Moses in the cradle, Moses in his cradle, Moses in the bulrushes, Moses on a raft, Oyster plant, Prayer plant, Purple-leaved spiderwort, Three men in a boat, Boatlily, Rhoeo discolor, Rhoeo spathacea, Moses-in-a-basket
Genus
Tradescantia Tradescantia
Species
T. spathacea - T. spathacea is a tender, compact, clump-forming, evergreen perennial with rosettes of semi-erect, fleshy, linear to lance-shaped, dark green leaves, dark purple beneath, and, throughout the year, cymes of white flowers surrounded by prominent, persistent, purple bracts.
Native to
Central America, Mexico
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump-forming, Rosette
Toxicity
Contact with sap may irritate skin.
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Colour
Flower
Dark-purple, White in All seasons
Foliage
Dark-purple, Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Specific pests
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
May become invasive in ideal growing conditions.
Propagation methods
Division, Stem tip cuttings
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Tradescantia spathacea (Boat lily ) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, City, Conservatory, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Greenhouse, Low Maintenance, Sub-Tropical, Underplanting
Cultivation
In frost-free areas, grow in fertile, moist soil in sun or shade. Direct, intense summer sun may scorch leaves. Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in bright filtered light. In growth, water moderately & feed monthly with a low-nitrogen fertiliser.
Soil type
Sandy, Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Sandy, Loamy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
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