Photo:  Robert Whyte

Inch Plant, White-Flowered Zebrina

Tradescantia fluminensis

trad-eh-SCANT-ee-ah  floo-min-EN-sis

Commelinaceae

Native to:  South America, Naturalized in the Unites States

Florida abundance and distribution: Several counties upper/panhandle of Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and California.

Recognition: A sprawling dense mat of groundcover with dark green, glossy, semi-succulent, ovate-acuminate leaves approx. 1 3/8” long and ¾” wide in boat shaped bract, purple underneath, with white flowers; three petals and six yellow anthers.

Potentially confused species:   T. albiflora Kunth. is similar and can be mistaken but the leaves are oblong –acuminate to 2” and 1” long, green above and below with marginal and keel hairs.

Other:  Can cause rashes if touched by humans and dogs.

Contributed by: Andrea Schechter