Tradescantia spathacea

Moses-in-the-Cradle, Oyster Plant, Boat Lily, Moses Plant, Rhoeo

Easy careTerrestrialMildly toxic15–30 cm

A compact rosette-forming subshrub with stiff, lance-shaped leaves — dark green on top, vivid purple underneath. Native to the forests of Mexico and Central America, it can tolerate a wide range of humidity and light conditions, making it versatile for both open and closed terrariums. Small white flowers nestle in boat-shaped bracts, which is where its common name comes from.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Moses-in-the-Cradle image

Photo by Mokkie·CC BY-SA 4.0

Care

Light

Bright indirect(preferred)Indirect light

Humidity

Medium (40–60%)(preferred)High (60–80%)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
13°C – 27°C

Soil

Well draining(preferred)Peat moss

Moisture

Moist(preferred)

Soil pH

6 – 6.5

Appearance

Growth habit

RosetteClumping

Leaf shape

Lance

Leaf texture

SmoothWaxy

Distribution

Propagation

Cut a 10–15 cm stem with several leaves just below a node. Place in water or moist soil in a warm, humid spot. Roots form within about a month.