Tradescantia ampelous flower: what kind of flower

Only a lazy grower does not know about a flower. This plant is very common in apartments in Russia because of its unpretentiousness and ease of care. A beautiful ampel plant can be found in educational institutions, offices and homes. It is used on open ground in the decorative compositions of flower beds. There are many types of this beauty, they delight not only with motley greens, but also with a variety of shapes and colors.

Botanical Description

The plant belongs to the Commeline family, which are common in the wild in the humid forests of the United States (from south to north). They grow mainly in marshy areas with a large amount of moisture, cover the soil with carpet or braided up natural supports. But in the homeland, the plants answer the question, what is tradescantia, right away - the weed.

What does a flower look like

There are about a hundred species, they differ from each other in the colors and shape of the leaves. The main characteristics of the plant:

• creeping shoots, creeping or erect (from which you can form a bush). It grows on carpet in open soil, and is often used as an ampel plant in rooms;
• the leaves are densely arranged on the shoots, the cuttings are short or there are none at all, and the leaf goes around the shoot
• the shape of the leaves can be oval, ovoid or lanceolate;
• leaf color is diverse: from dark green to light green shades. There are silver, pink, lilac and those in which the reverse side of the sheet is painted in burgundy or dark purple;
• some leaves delight with bright stripes of white, pink and purple hues. Others have an edge on leaves and flowers. A similar thing occurs in fluffy tradescantia;
• small flowers in indoor tradescantia, gathered in bunches, located at the ends of the shoot or distributed along its entire length;
• the color scheme of inflorescences from white to lilac. Stamens are yellow, white with thick long bunches. Garden varieties are distinguished by large flowers.

Unusual colors of flowers and leaves

In the care is simple and picky, loves light and humidity. Propagation by cuttings is the easiest way for the house. In summer, it adjusts to the heat of 25-28 ° C, in winter it can feel comfortable at temperatures below 10 ° C. Need pruning to form a bush and transplant every spring. After 3-4 years, the shoots lose their decorative effect, and the plant needs to be completely updated.

The soil needs mixed from woody earth, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Top dressing is necessary in the summer twice a month, alternating organic and mineral fertilizers.

The problems that the owners of this bright representative of the Kommelinovs may encounter are associated with incorrect conditions:

• pale leaves appear when direct sunlight enters the plant;
• thin and bare stems - a lack of light, often this phenomenon is observed in winter;
• with an excess of moisture, putrefactive spots may appear on the stems, which means that the root system has also already begun to rot from an excess of moisture. It is better to update such a plant and monitor the watering;
• Tradescantia can also be attacked by aphids, bugs and ticks.

Variety of species and varieties of tradescantia

Tradescantia with its unpretentiousness earned the love of breeders, who added unusual combinations of colors and shades to its natural varieties. The most famous and interesting species of this unusual grassy creeping:

• tradescantia is violet. This perennial culture has small, pointed leaves whose color mixes dark green and purple shades. The reverse side of the foliage is pubescent and has a rich purple color. To preserve the decorative coloring of the leaves, it is necessary to provide good lighting. Inflorescences are small pink or raspberry;
• tradescantia is white - the most common in Russian apartments and offices. Ovate broad leaves are densely located on creeping stems. The flowers are white with white stamens, but this species rarely blooms. The white tradescantia has many subspecies. There are striped with white or pink stripes. And the most unusual tricolor - the stripe in the center is pink, and the side ones are white;
• riverine tradescantia (myrtle). A variety of riverine tradescantia is also a frequent resident of Russian houses. It differs from white in size and density of foliage, refers to small-leaved species. The stem is thinner and colored purple, the back of the leaves is completely purple or with spots. The flowering of this beauty can be enjoyed in different periods of the year. She pleases the eye with small white flowers scattered in bunches on the shoot. The subspecies of this variety are surprisingly diverse in color: silver or yellow stripes, leaf plates, completely painted in pink;

Violet tradescantia flowers contrast on dark foliage

• tradescantia variegated. The leaves of this species are painted white with green stripes. It looks very decorative and festive. Thickly planted leaves of this species allow you to create a lush bush and decorative composition;
• tradescantia is pink. Her second name is a shy bride. A very unusual decorative look that changes color over time. Young leaves are painted in a soft pink color, and which at level 3-4 already begin to turn green, starting from the pointed tip of the sheet plate to the base;
• Tradescantia Nanook is another unusual hybrid. The color, shape and method of leaf growth are similar to the white tradescantia. These are green leaves with white stripes. In the Nanook species, the reverse side of the sheet is bright purple. A young, only emerging leaf has the same saturated color. It is best to pinch a decorative look and form an unusual bush.

The bottom sheets of pink tradescantia are green

In addition to appearance, flower growers are in a hurry to get a real doctor in their house. Tradescantia potato helps purify indoor air from harmful secretions and germs.

Varieties with white leaves are able to leave skin irritation from the juice. From here rumors are born about the toxicity of the tradescantia and whether it can be kept at home. A roomy beauty does not contain poisons and harmful substances, with careful care it is absolutely harmless. The main thing is to choose a suitable look and provide it with the required care.