Tradescantia Zebrina Plants GrowTropicals
Tradescantia Zebrina — 12cm
Inch Plant

Tradescantia Zebrina

£10.99
Hard to kill
Pot size

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

Complete the set up
Description

Tradescantia zebrina, commonly known as the Inch Plant, is one of the most colourful trailing houseplants you can grow indoors. Each pointed, oval leaf is painted with two broad silver bands along a deep green base, while the undersides blaze in vivid magenta-purple. Fast-growing stems trail and cascade with enthusiasm, making the plant ideal for a hanging planter, a bright windowsill, or a high shelf where the colourful undersides can be admired from below. 

Origins

Tradescantia zebrina is native to Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Caribbean, where it scrambles across forest floors and clearings in bright, humid conditions.

Soil and Substrate

Tradescantia zebrina is vigorous and thirsty, but its roots dislike sitting in soggy soil. Our Simply Houseplant Tropical Potting Mix suits it well. The coco coir, bark, and perlite blend retains steady moisture while draining freely, encouraging dense, colourful growth. A quick prune now and again keeps stems full and bushy rather than leggy.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

Find out more

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

Best quality plants guaranteed
7 day live arrival guarantee
Delivered to your door with care
Earn 54 points with this plant · 5 points per £1 Join free

How to care for Inch Plant

Keep me in bright, gentle light away from harsh sun and water me once my top few centimetres feel dry.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
Get to know me

About Inch Plant

Tradescantia Zebrina is an easy-care houseplant. It needs bright indirect light, watering once the top 2 to 3cm of compost has dried out, average household humidity and a minimum temperature of 13°C. Its sap can irritate skin and mouths, so keep it away from pets and small children.

Good for

Living Room Bedroom

Care level

EasyChallenge

Easy care

Light

ShadeFull sun

Bright, indirect light

This plant grows best in bright, indirect light or dappled shade. Keep it away from direct sun, which can scorch its delicate leaves. For healthy growth and vibrant foliage, place it near a north-facing or east-facing window where it will receive plenty of filtered light. Read moreShow less

This plant grows best in bright, indirect light or dappled shade. Keep it away from direct sun, which can scorch its delicate leaves. For healthy growth and vibrant foliage, place it near a north-facing or east-facing window where it will receive plenty of filtered light.

Learn more →

Watering

Evenly moistDries out fully

Let the top few centimetres dry out

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water your plant when the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the soil feels slightly dry, and always ensure the pot has good drainage. Avoid soggy soil or standing water, and do not let the plant dry out completely, as steady moisture is essential for healthy growth. Read moreShow less

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water your plant when the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the soil feels slightly dry, and always ensure the pot has good drainage. Avoid soggy soil or standing water, and do not let the plant dry out completely, as steady moisture is essential for healthy growth.

Humidity

Average homeHigh humidity

Happy at normal household humidity

This plant will tolerate normal household humidity, but performs best with slightly higher levels. Like all tropical plants, good humidity levels help support healthy growth and keep the foliage healthy. If you have a particularly dry home, grouping plants together can help to increase humidity. Read moreShow less

This plant will tolerate normal household humidity, but performs best with slightly higher levels. Like all tropical plants, good humidity levels help support healthy growth and keep the foliage healthy. If you have a particularly dry home, grouping plants together can help to increase humidity.

Learn more →

Temperature

Keep above 13°C · Happy at normal room temperature

This plant grows best in warm temperatures between 18°C and 26°C. Keep it away from cold draughts and avoid temperatures below 15°C, as cooler conditions can stress the plant and affect healthy growth. Read moreShow less

This plant grows best in warm temperatures between 18°C and 26°C. Keep it away from cold draughts and avoid temperatures below 15°C, as cooler conditions can stress the plant and affect healthy growth.

Feeding

Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.

Growth habit

Trailing →

Plant type

Foliage houseplant →

Toxicity

The sap can irritate skin and mouths. Wash your hands after handling and keep it away from pets and small children.

Also known as

Tradescantia Zebrina

Genus

Tradescantia →
More on caring for houseplants What does bright indirect light mean? Should I mist my houseplants?
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Meet the family

Everything about Tradescantia

Tradescantia, also known as inch plant or spiderwort, is a great low-maintainance houseplant for any living or office space. Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Tradescantia thrives in warm, humid environments where its vibrant ...

More about Tradescantia care
Tradescantia Care Guide
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

Verified reviews

Rated by real customers

Customers praised this vibrant trailing houseplant for arriving healthy and "much bigger than expected." Reviews highlight "beautiful and bushy" foliage with colorful leaves that cascade beautifully. Packaging receives consistent praise for protecting plants during delivery, even in cold weather. One customer noted slight transport damage.

  • Beautiful plant and arrived looking exactly like the online pic.
  • Amazing plant she came very quick and much bigger than expected!!
  • So easy to look after and you get a pretty cascade of colourful leaves.
  • 5 stars: 17 (94%)
  • 4 stars: 1 (6%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
K
Karen S.
Great plant

Beautiful and bushy plant with perfect delivery and no visual damage.

Karen S. review photo
M
Michael - North London (United Kingdom)
12cm

Beautiful plant and arrived looking exactly like the online pic. Well packaged and damage free. Looks fabulous in my living room. Thoroughly recommend.

M
M.k.

Amazing plant she came very quick and much bigger than expected!!

m
meghan

Amazing plant she came very quick and much bigger than expected!!

G
Gary

Plant was delivered in great condition, would 100% recommend

G
Gary

Plant was delivered in great condition, would 100% recommend

T
Toni N.
Great size, colour and already trailing!

So pretty!

D
David O.
Lovely plants

I've ordered 8 plants in total plus a soil mix. The plants arrived healthy even though they were being delivered during a cold snap.
I was pleasantly surprised that some of the plants were bigger than in the pictures as well.
Will be ordering again

H
Helen T.
Gorgeous plants:blush:

I absolutely love my new tropical plants. They were all so healthy and happy despite the cold journey.

L
Laurence J.
Quality

Beautiful specimen carefully packaged and precisely as described

L
Lee T.
Healthy

Healthy, good size and wrll packaged. Using it to top dress my large pots that have larger plants in them

S
Sue B.
So pretty

This will be my third one, I have the white one and nanouk so easy to look after and you get a pretty cascade of colourful leaves.
The plants come well packaged and healthy, ready to grow on.
I have had several plants from GrowTropicals, over the year's and can highly recommend them.

S
Stephen H.
Tradescantia Zebrina

Good sized plant well packaged arrived in great condition

K
Kay J.
Another GREAT Little Plant

So happy with this little guy! Absolutely perfect in every way.

S
Sally C.
Superb quality

The packing was first class - every care had been taken to deliver the plants.
Plants were first rate.

s
sue b.
Lovely large healthy plant in

Lovely large healthy plant in perfect health when delivered

S
Sun L.
My plant arrived safely, and

My plant arrived safely, and the soil for alocasia is growing well.

k
karl m.
Nice plant. Although did arrive

Nice plant. Although did arrive slightly damaged. But this was probably done during transport.

You may also like

We recommend
Tradescantia Zebrina
£10.99