Collection: Rhoeo Plants

The Rhoeo plant also called Tradescantia spathacea scientifically, bears different names such as Moses-in-the-cradle and oyster plant. This plant is native to Mexico and Guatemala but is cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant.

It is such a plant that can be placed both indoors and outdoors. It is usually used as a border in gardens. The plant is resilient and adaptable to any condition.

Rhoeo is a beautiful, low-maintenance plant that features brightly colored leaves arranged in a rosette shape. Leaves are green with purple, pink, and white striping.

Rhoeo is the synonym of Tradescantia spathacea. Moses in the Cradle is a rather succulent herb with a dense cluster of sturdy sword-shaped leaves arising from a trunklike stem. The leaves are a dark teal-tinged forest green on top and vivid violet underneath.

Rhoeo is a common border or edging plant in tropical or subtropical gardens. It’s tough and adaptable, suitable for full sun or part shade, across a range of soil types. This plant grows steadily into a clump, eventually covering a large area if left to its devices.

Its colorful foliage makes it a useful plant for adding foliage contrast around the garden.

Although a member of the Commelinaceae (Spiderworts), Rhoeo is NOT invasive like many of its relatives. It will form a clump but lacks the stolons that other Tradescantia use to spread rapidly across the ground. However, like all members of the family, Rhoeo can cause skin irritation in dogs.

This isn’t usually a big issue as dogs aren’t interested in the plant. But if you have pooches that like to go garden diving, perhaps this is not the plant for you. Rhoeo can also sometimes cause skin irritation in humans as well.

As mentioned, Rhoeo is very tough and easy to grow. The only thing that really bothers it is the cold. It is not frosted tolerant and also becomes prone to rotting off if kept too wet in winter. It will sometimes attract mealybug as well, but this is largely seasonal and not a major issue if treated.

There are various cultivars of Rhoeo, the most popular being the dwarf purple form. Others include Stripe-Me-Pink (dwarf varigated), vittata variegata (yellow variegated) and ‘Gold’ (all yellow).

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. Probably, the boat-shaped bracts with a small white flower in the middle look like an eye.

Common name(s): Moses in the Cradle, Oysterplant, Boatlily, Moses-in-a-boat

Rhoeo, including Rhoeo discolor and Rhoeo, is a plant of many names. Depending on where you live, you may call this plant moses-in-the-cradle, moses-in-a-basket, boat lily, and oyster plant.

Whatever you call it, Rhoeo makes an excellent and fast-growing groundcover in the garden.

Rhoeo plants can be placed in full sun or shade according to one's convenience. It doesn't have any pest issues. Hence it is easy to care for. One thing to consider is that the plant cannot tolerate frost.

Therefore it is suitable to place it indoors during winter and then place it outdoors during the summers. If you are novice in gardening the keeping Rhoeo Plants will give you a good start to understand plants.

The Rhoeo plant also possesses an anti-inflammatory property which is useful for treating nose bleeding. However, people should try it with caution as some people tend to be allergic to it.

Moses-in-the-cradle comes in many variants, some of which are Stripe-me-pink, Vittata Variegata and Gold.

Rhoeo plant varieties have been named after their characteristic colours.
All these varieties are available at Nurserylive. Nurserylive is the go-to place to pamper your inner botanist and nature lover.

We have various categories of plants for both indoors and outdoors. We offer an incredible collection of plants which include plants such as herbs, spice plants, creepers, climbers and ornamental plants. You can find all of these at Nurserylive.com.