Tradescantia sp.
Family: Commelinaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Tradescantia sp. is a non-native California perennial in the Commelinaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Commelina: Tradescantia has three equal petals (symmetrical); Commelina has two large and one tiny petal (lopsided).; vs Vinca: Tradescantia has 3 petals; Vinca has 5 petals forming a pinwheel with a dark eye in center.; vs Cordyline: Tradescantia has showy three-petaled flowers; Cordyline has tiny flowers in large branched clusters and woody stems.; vs Callisia: Tradescantia has flowers over 1 cm wide; Callisia has tiny flowers under 5 mm and often creeping succulent stems.; vs Oxalis: Tradescantia has 3 petals; Oxalis has 5 petals and distinctive shamrock-like leaves that fold at night.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tradescantia sp. native to California?
No. Tradescantia sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Tradescantia sp. belong to?
Tradescantia sp. is in the Commelinaceae family, genus Tradescantia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.