Tender perennial
Tradescantia ‘Maiden’s Blush’
Spiderwort ‘Maiden's Blush’
Also known as: Tradescantia fluminensis 'Maiden's Blush', Tradescantia 'Blushing Bride', Tradescantia × andersoniana 'Maiden's Blush'
A trailing, tender foliage plant with green leaves edged cream and flushed bright pink on new growth. Proven frost hardy with good drainage.
- Partial shade
- 5–10 cm (2–4 in)
- 30–60 cm (12–24 in)
- H2 · Zone 10
- May–September
- Evergreen
- RHS Award of Garden Merit
Overview
A sport of the wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis), this trailing plant has small, pointed, green leaves variegated cream, with new growth flushed vivid pink and purple undersides. Small white flowers appear occasionally. It is frost hardy when provided with good drainage and a thick mulch in autumn. However, in the UK and similar climates it is mostly grown as a houseplant, in hanging baskets, or as summer bedding outdoors. Bright, indirect light keeps the pink colour strongest. It holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit.
At a Glance
Growing Conditions
Aspect Suitability
- North-facing
- East-facing
- West-facing
Soil Tolerance
- Sandy
- Loam
- Acid
- Neutral pH
Foliage
- Variegated
Foliage interest: 12 months of the year
Seasonal Timeline
- Flowering May Jun Jul Aug Sep
- Foliage 12 months of the year
- Propagate Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Maintenance Calendar
- Mar Pinch out stem tips to keep it bushy, as long bare stems are a sign it needs trimming
- May Root the trimmings in water to refresh the plant, because older stems become leggy
- Jun Move outdoors to a shady spot for summer only once nights stay above 10°C
- Sep Bring plants indoors before nights turn cold, placing them in bright, indirect light
Garden Design
Works well in: Modern / Contemporary, Tropical / Exotic
Grow in a hanging basket or on a high shelf so the pink-tipped stems trail down; in summer it makes a colourful edge to shady pots outdoors.
Companion planting: Ferns, Fittonias, Begonias, Trailing houseplants
Wildlife Value
Listed as an invasive non-native plant in the UK: never let it spread into the wild.
Safety
- Toxic to dogs
- Toxic to cats
- Skin irritant
Sap can cause skin irritation in people and pets (contact dermatitis in dogs and cats). Tradescantia fluminensis is a serious invasive weed in New Zealand, Australia and the south-eastern USA; never dump cuttings outdoors in mild climates, as every stem piece roots.