Tradescantia sillamontana - Succulent - 3" Pot

Tradescantia sillamontana, popularly called White Velvet or Cobweb Spiderwort, is a small, semi-succulent perennial native to the arid highlands of Mexico. Its upright, zig-zag stems carry rounded olive-to-purplish leaves that are completely wrapped in silvery-white cobweb-like hairs, a feature that protects it from harsh sun and reduces water loss.

In Indian homes it is grown as an ornamental potted plant for bright balconies, windowsills and shaded terraces. Through the warm months it produces small bright magenta-pink three-petalled flowers at the stem tips. Tolerant of heat and neglect, it suits beginners looking for an unusual textured succulent.

Specifications

Care guide

Uses

<p>White Velvet is grown chiefly as an ornamental for its unusual furry silver foliage.</p><ul><li>Tabletop, windowsill and bright-balcony pot plant</li><li>Textural filler in succulent dish gardens and mixed arrangements</li><li>Hanging baskets where stems can trail and spread</li><li>Low-care greenery for offices and beginner gardeners</li></ul>

Growing tips

<p>Give it the brightest spot you can without scorching afternoon sun; bright light keeps the white hairs dense and stems compact.</p><p>During the dry season water sparingly and let the mix dry out fully between waterings. In the monsoon, shift pots under cover and ease off watering to avoid rot. Pinch the tips through summer for a bushy plant, and take cuttings in spring or the post-monsoon warmth when they root fastest.</p>