Tradescantia spathacea
Rhoeo Dwarf

Rhoeo Dwarf (Tradescantia spathacea) is an attractive clumping plant. Its strappy, sword-shaped leaves are a deep green on the top side and a rich purple on the underside. It grows to 20-40cm in height and forms clumps. It works very well in mass plantings or as a low border. It can also be grown indoors in filtered light and works very well as a potted plant.

Rhoeos have small, white flowers that bloom mostly in spring to summer, although they can flower all year. The flowers are encased in small boat-shaped bracts. It is the shape of the bracts that gave the plant its common names Boat Lily and Moses in the Cradle / Moses in a Boat.

Tradescatia spathacea likes a position in full sun to part shade in freely draining organic mix. It is mostly drought tolerant in the garden once established. Water regularly until then. These plants can tolerate short periods of low temperatures, as long as they are not too wet. They are not generally frost tolerant, although may survive the occasional light frost.

Looking for a different colour Rhoeo? Have a look at the gorgous yellow-gold leaves of the Rhoeo Gold or the stunning striped Rhoeo Pinky.