The Wandering Jew (Tradescantia pallida, synonym Setcreasea purpurea) is a species of spiderwort native to eastern Mexico, from Tamaulipas to Yucatan. It is an evergreen perennial plant with elongated, pointed leaves 7-15 cm long, and small three-petalled white, pink or purple flowers with yellow stamens. The leaves are glaucous green, often with a red or purple fringe, or (in many cultivars) purple throughout, or green and white variegated. The plant thrives in sun or light shade in subtropical areas, grows to 20-40 cm tall.

The botanical name for the genus is in honour of John Tradescant. The species name pallida refers to the pale (pallid) flowers.

The NCBI uses the classification Setcreasea purpurea, a classification which the ITIS and most other authorities reject as a synonym of Tradescantia pallida. Some other websites list it under the name Setcreasea pallida.

Cultivation and uses

Wandering Jew is widely used as an ornamental plant in gardens and borders, as a ground cover, hanging plant, or (particularly in colder areas) houseplant. It is propagated easily by cuttings; the stems are visibly segmented and roots will frequently grow from the joints.

While Wandering Jew is non-toxic and generally considered safe for human consumption, it is also exceedingly bland. Wandering Jew has applications as a livestock and poultry feed as it is fast-growing, resilient to disease, and tolerates shade.

The Wandering Jew has escaped from cultivation in many areas from the southern United States to South America and in the warmer parts of the Old World including Australia; in many areas it is considered an invasive weed.

In New Zealand, the closely related Brazilian species Tradescantia fluminensis is also known as Wandering Jew. It is an invasive weed in native bush areas and is consided a noxious weed or pest plant that landowners are responsible for eradicating because Tradescantia is distinct in its ability to colonise low-light areas. It can form a dense mat under forest, which smothers low-growing plants and prevents the natural regeneration of taller native species. If left unchecked it can lead to the destruction of native forests. This plant can be seen in the New Zealand native bush in at least one scene in the movie The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

External links and references

• ITIS ID 521419
• NCBI ID 59015
• Tradescantia fluminensis