Commelinaceae
Small-leaf spiderwort
Tradescantia fluminensis
- Family
- Commelinaceae
- Genus
- Tradescantia
Pets and kids
- CatsNot sure
- DogsMildly toxic
- KidsSafe
Why
Cats: Not sure
We found no reliable source on this plant for cats, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.
Dogs: Mildly toxic
Mildly toxic to dogs.
Signs: contact dermatitis, skin redness, skin irritation.
Kids: Safe
Sources below say it is non-toxic to young children. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Poisonous and non-poisonous plants: An illustrated list Poison control
Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.
Is yours looking unwell? Scan your plant — free
Common names
By language (15)
- Afrikaans
- Wandelende Jood
- Arabic
- نبات اليهودي الزاحف
- arz
- نبات اليهودى الزاحف
- Asturian
- Cariñu (de) los homes
- Basque
- Katu belarri
- Chinese
- 巴西水竹草, 白花紫露草, 巴西水竹葉, 紫葉水竹草, 白花水竹草
- Czech
- Podeňka světlá
- English
- Small-leaf spiderwort, Small-leaf wandering jew, Wandering jew
- Finnish
- Rionjuoru
- German
- Rio-Dreimasterblume
- Japanese
- トキワツユクサ
- Russian
- Традесканция приречная
- Spanish
- Suelda con suelda
- Swedish
- Skvallerreva, Vandrande jude
- Welsh
- Llysiau‘r-pryf-copyn Brasil, Llysiau'r-pryf-copyn Brasil
Synonyms
- Tradescantia albiflora Kunth
- Tradescantia albovittata Pynaert
- Tradescantia laekenensis hort. ex L.H.Bailey & E.Z.Bailey
Flowers
- In flower
- March to June, September to December (from 1,280 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)
Characteristics
- Growth habit
- Forb/herb
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- In the US and Canada
- Lower 48 states: introduced
Photos
FlowerPhoto: Saryu Mae 前 朝琉, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
FlowerPhoto: zebedeugalinha, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
FlowerPhoto: Bruno Avilez, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Enrique Dans from Madrid, Spain, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Greg Tasney, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Semnoz at French Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Mathilde Duverger, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF 
Photo: Caleb Catto, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: louis.drieux, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF 
Photo: zebedeugalinha, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
More in Tradescantia
- Inch plantTradescantia zebrinaCommelinaceae
- Purple queenTradescantia pallidaCommelinaceae
- Boat-lilyTradescantia spathaceaCommelinaceae
- Virginia spiderwortTradescantia virginianaCommelinaceae
- Tradescantia sillamontanaCommelinaceae
- BluejacketTradescantia ohiensisCommelinaceae
- Cohitre blancoTradescantia zanoniaCommelinaceae
- Longbract spiderwortTradescantia bracteataCommelinaceae
- Prairie spiderwortTradescantia occidentalisCommelinaceae
- Dwarf spiderwortTradescantia longipesCommelinaceae
- Zigzag spiderwortTradescantia subasperaCommelinaceae
- Tradescantia cerinthoidesCommelinaceae
Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.