Tradescantia spathacea

Tradescantia spathacea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Commelinales
Family:	Commelinaceae
Genus:	Tradescantia
Species:	T. spathacea
Binomial name
Tradescantia spathacea
Synonyms
Rhoeo discolor Rhoeo spathacea Tradescantia discolor Tradescantia bicolor

Tradescantia spathacea, or Moses-in-the-Cradle, is a herb native to Mexico with fleshy rhizomes. It has rosettes of waxy lance-shaped leaves. Leaves are dark to metallic green above, with glossy purple underneath. These will reach up to 1 foot (30 cm) long by 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide. They are very attractive foliage plants that will reach 1 foot (30 cm) tall. They are hardy in USDA zones 9-12. It is invasive exotic to South Florida.