While there aren’t many varieties of Wandering Jew, these pretty cultivars will grace your desks and hanging baskets like no other!
Wandering Dudes are incredibly versatile and come in a variety of colors, patterns, and growth habits. Plus, you can even grow them in water! If you’re looking to add some to your home, we’ve got some of the best varieties of Wandering Jew just for you!
Most Common Varieties of Wandering Dude That You Must Grow
1. Zebrina Pendula
Botanical Name: Tradescantia zebrina
This plant features long, trailing stems with vivid dark green-burgundy leaves adorned by prominent silvery stripes. The plant’s defined variegation is worth admiring, earning it the common name.
2. Small Leaf Spiderwort
Botanical Name: Tradescantia fluminensis
With its slender, elongated leaves striped with green and lavender, this plant has a delicate appearance. Plus, its compact growth makes it a cool option for crowning a mini coffee table or maybe complementing your work desk.
3. Purple Heart
Botanical Name: Tradescantia pallida
If you love the regal shade of purple, this plant should take the center spot on your bookshelf. It boasts long, pointed leaves in a dark purple shade lined along purple stems, making for a monochromatic beauty that’s worth bringing home.
4. Tradescantia ‘Nanouk’
Botanical Name: Tradescantia albiflora ‘Nanouk’
This compact beauty is a must-have for those who love variegated plants and can manage to give them a few hours of bright indirect sunlight. The irregular stripes in pink, lavender, and green along the mini lance-shaped foliage will definitely have your heart,
5. White Gossamer Plant
Botanical Name: Tradescantia sillamontana
This wandering dude cultivar definitely ditches the crowd with its not-so-typical green and white foliage. Plus, it has this fuzzy, white coating that gives it a rare yet appealing look you’d love to grace the corners of your living room with!
6. Boat LIly
Botanical Name: Tradescantia spathacea
The Boat Lily has an even more unique look, with elongated, lance-shaped leaves striped in green, lavender, and subtle bands of silver. The underside is a rich, deep purple, all arranged in a rosette pattern that resembles a boat or cradle, earning it the common names—’Boar Lily’ and ‘Moses-in-the-Cradle’.
7. Virginia Spiderwort
Botanical Name: Tradescantia virginiana
Moving to a more temperate member of the family, the Virginia Spiderwort features grass-like, blue-green foliage, which sets the stage for its small but tri-petaled flowers. These pretty flowers are usually a vibrant shade of blue or purple and appear in late spring to early summer.
8. Tradescantia Green Hill
Botanical Name: Tradescantia mundula ‘Green Hill’
This lesser-known gem with a simpler yet equally classy look boasts plush, soft to touch leaves with a uniform deep green sans the typical wandering dude variegation. This variety is particularly appreciated for its dense, mat-forming growth, thriving even in the neglected spots of the house.
9. Wild Crocus
Botanical Name: Tradescantia longipes
Lastly, the Wild Crocus, which, despite its name, isn’t a true crocus but a close relative within the Tradescantia genus. It shows off a compact form with narrow, slightly curled leaves that emerge directly from the ground, forming low tufts with. The flowers are a subtle yet beautiful shade of violet and bloom in the heart of spring.
