Hi fellow plant lovers!
If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen this week's Tradescantia Tuesday post about 'Purple Pixie' where I mentioned its look-alike, 'Purpurea'. There are many Tradescantias that look very similar yet are distinct cultivars. Knowing what to look for is key if you want to differentiate them. So, I thought I’d show you some of the most commonly confused ones and give you tips on how to tell which is which!
Pallida 'Purple Pixie' and 'Purpurea'
I can't count how many times I've seen people ask for identification of these two, only to get the answer "Purple Heart." It's understandably confusing, especially since both cultivars share this nickname. However, they’re not the same and despite their similarities at first glance, there are some key differences that can help you tell them apart. Firstly, the leaf shape; 'Purple Pixie' features shorter and wider leaves, while 'Purpurea' boasts longer and thinner leaves. Then there's the color; 'Purpurea' has a more grey-greenish purple hue, whereas 'Purple Pixie' presents a deeper, darker purple.
Fluminensis 'Variegata' and 'Yellow Hill'
It took me quite a while to figure these two out, and I sometimes still find it challenging. The trick is to look at the patterns on the leaves. The stripes on 'Variegata' are often sharper and more defined, whereas the stripes on 'Yellow Hill' tend to be more blurred.
Continental Group 'Albovittata' and 'Ivory Hill'
These two from the Continental Group set themselves apart from the rest of the group by not having the compact growth that most of the others do; they have more space between their leaves. Otherwise, these two are identical except for the color of their stripes. It can be difficult to see sometimes, but the stripes on Albovittata are white, while the stripes on Ivory Hill lean more towards yellow.
Zebrina 'Quadricolor', 'HappiLee', and 'Discolor Multicolor'
These are three variegated cultivars belonging to the Zebrina species. At first, they can be challenging to tell apart, but there are some clues to help identify them. While some suggest checking for hair on the leaves to tell them apart, the amount of hair can vary, and it makes it an unreliable method for differentiating them. It’s better to check the silver stripes. 'Quadricolor' has the widest stripes, which cover half of the leaf and appear solid. 'HappiLee's stripes are slightly narrower with a distinctive zigzag pattern. And 'Discolor Multicolor' has the thinnest stripes, with a broken appearance.
Zebrina 'Violet Hill' and 'Burgundy'
There are many Zebrina varieties that look quite alike, and I still find it hard to tell some of them apart. However, unless you’re specifically looking for the rarer types, you're unlikely to come across many. So, these two are the most common ones you might see. Both have similar shapes and silver stripes. However, a few traits can help you spot a 'Violet Hill': look for hairs on the leaves and small bumps in the middle of the leaves. The only other 'Zebrina' with small bumps is 'Minima', but it has zigzagged silver stripes, which 'Violet Hill' does not have. 'Burgundy' stands out because of its greyish-purple colored leaves. There is another one that's almost identical to Burgundy, Deep Purple. To tell them apart you have to wait for them to bloom. Deep Purple is not as common as burgundy.
Mundula 'Green Hill', Fluminensis 'Viridis', Chrysophylla 'Baby Bunny Bellies'
There are many green cultivars that look very alike and can be difficult to differentiate. Some common ones include 'Green Hill', 'Viridis', and 'Baby Bunny Bellies'. 'Baby Bunny Bellies' should be easy to distinguish from the others since it's covered in soft hair. It feels like the soft belly of a bunny (there’s no wonder how it got its name).
'Green Hill' and 'Viridis' can be much harder to tell apart, but if you look very closely, you can see tiny hairs on the leaves of 'Green Hill', while 'Viridis' is completely smooth. The color of these two can vary depending on the light, but in my experience, 'Green Hill' has a slightly darker green color than 'Viridis'. There is another green Fluminensis cultivar called 'Bicolor', which is almost identical to 'Viridis'; the difference is that it has purple undersides of its leaves, while 'Viridis' has green.
So there you have it – a guide to some of the more common Tradescantias that are easily mistaken for one another. Identifying Tradescantias isn't always straightforward. I've devoted a lot of time to researching and learning how to accurately identify the various cultivars. At the same time, I often see misidentifications within our community. It’s easy to see how one could mistake 'Purple Pixie' for 'Purpurea' or overlook the subtle distinctions between 'Albovittata' and 'Ivory Hill'. So, my point is, essentially, do your own research. There are great resources if you want to learn more about identifying Tradescantias, for example, Tradescantia Hub's complete list of accepted cultivars.
Until next time, happy planting!
Katja
