Family: Commelinaceae
Common Names: oysterplant, Moses-in-the-cradle, boatlily, Moses-in-a-boat
Origin: Central America
Light: Oysterplant seems to prefer light shade, but it grows well in bright sun as well as in fairly dim light.
Moisture: Oysterplant appreciates moist soil, but tolerates drought well.

Description:
Oysterplant is a rather succulent herb with a dense cluster of sturdy 6-12 in (15.2-30.5 cm) long sword-shaped leaves arising from a trunklike stem up to 8 in (20.3 cm) tall. The leaves are a dark teal-tinged forest green on top and vivid violet underneath. The small white three-petaled flowers are hidden in boat-shaped purple bracts nestled in the leaf axils. Flowers and seed are produced all year.

Care:
Bright location and room temperature all year round. It will do well in high humidity especially during its growing season in summer. Feed weekly from spring to summer and water sparingly in winter. Oysterplant is definitely a tropical plant, and it does not survive even a light freeze.

Propagation: New plants may be started from cuttings taken in the spring and rooted in light sandy soil or by potting up offsets. Start plants from seed by crumbling an old blossom cluster and placing it on the soil.

Info:
- Tradescantia is named after John Tradescant senior (died 1638), gardener to Charles I, who collected the first tradescantia from Virginia, USA.

Spathacea refers to the spatula-like leaves of this variety.
- However its flowers are used medicinally in South China, to treat ailments such as dysentery. Found commonly around the ancient Mayan sites in

Guatemala, Yucatan and Belize, it was probably cultivated for use as a cosmetic. It is considered a herb succulent.