Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ in Kokodama close-up of leaf on white background.

Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ in Kokodama potted plant in nursery pot on white background.

Commelinaceae

Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ in Kokodama

Silver Inch Plant

Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ combines silver-green striped leaves and violet-purple undersides with a rounded coconut-fibre Kokodama planter. Its trailing stems extend over the bowl as the plant grows.

Read full guide to Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ in Kokodama

€20,50

VAT included · plus

Plant size: Pot Ø 15 cmapprox. 20 cm tall

Sizes are approximate. Height is measured from the bottom of the pot to the top of the plant; diameter at the widest point.

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Care at a glance

Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ in Kokodama

Light

Very bright / some direct • approx. 20,000–40,000 lux

Watering

Water when ~40–60% dry

Substrate

Moisture-retentive but aerated • Evenly moist • Organic-leaning • Fine-medium

Temperature

Ideal: 15–24 °C • Avoid below: 10 °C

Humidity

Elevated 50–60%

Growth habit

Trailing and spreading herbaceous perennial.

Support

not needed

Growth speed

Average

Cultivated size guide

Trail length: 60 cm • Spread: 60 cm

Toxicity & safety

Toxic

Origin & habitat

Cultivar of Tradescantia zebrina; species native from Mexico to Colombia

Outdoor growing

Outside from 10 °C · sheltered spot

How to read these values

These care values give practical guidance for growing the plant. Adjust care for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.

For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.

Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.

Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
Growth speed: expected pace under suitable growing conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.

Cultivated size guide: approximate dimensions for an established plant in the stated growing context. Height is measured upwards from the growing surface; foliage height excludes flower stems. Trailing length follows a stem, while foliage drop is the vertical distance from the crown to the lowest leaf tips. Spread is the width of the leafy plant or crown, not an individual leaf. Flowering height includes the flower stems. A container guide applies to pot-grown plants; an in-ground guide applies to plants rooted in the ground. Size also depends on age, conditions, pot space and training.

These figures do not describe the size supplied and are not fixed upper limits.

Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.

Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ in Kokodama

Silver-green leaves with pale central stripes and violet-purple undersides give ‘Violet Hill’ its distinctive colouring. Its stems spread from a rounded coconut-fibre Kokodama planter and gradually trail below the bowl as the plant grows.

Silver-green stripes above violet leaf backs

Leaf colour: Silver-green longitudinal bands and a pale centre contrast with the violet-purple underside of each pointed blade.
Fine texture: Subtle central surface bumps and delicate hairs may be visible on mature leaves.
Growth pattern: Jointed stems lengthen from active tips, branch and form roots at their nodes, widening the trailing curtain.
Ageing habit: Leafy coloured tips and barer older stem sections can occur together as the trailing growth matures.

Origin & background

Origin of Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ in Kokodama

‘Violet Hill’, also known as ‘Pink Joy’, is a cultivated form of Tradescantia zebrina. This version grows in a rounded Kokodama planter with a coconut-fibre outer bowl and a coated paper inner cup.

Wild T. zebrina ranges from Mexico to Colombia. Its stems spread through seasonally dry tropical sites and root where the nodes meet the ground. The species was formerly known as Zebrina pendula.

Plant care

Care for Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ in Kokodama

Light: Place in bright filtered light, introducing gentle direct sun gradually.
Temperature and humidity: ‘Violet Hill’ grows comfortably at 15–24 °C. Protect it from prolonged temperatures below 10 °C and aim for relative humidity around 50–60%.
Watering: Check the growing medium near the roots and lift the planter. When the mix starts to dry and the planter feels lighter, water the medium slowly in small portions. The coated inner cup may retain excess water, so stop before water pools inside. The coconut-fibre outside is not a reliable moisture indicator.
Repotting: When roots crowd the planted area or the medium has deteriorated, transfer the plant into a suitable, freely draining pot.
Pruning, feeding and propagation: Pinch overlong or sparse stems above a node to encourage branching, and root healthy cuttings in water or propagation mix. During active growth, feed lightly through normal watering; use plain water between feedings.

Issues & solutions

Common issues with Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ in Kokodama

Drooping stems at the base: Check the growing medium near the roots. If it is dry and the planter feels light, water the mix directly in small portions. If stem nodes blacken or the mix smells sour and remains wet, inspect accessible roots and remove only clearly rotten tissue. A freely draining pot may be needed if the root area cannot recover.
Colour fades and stems become sparse: Move to brighter filtered light, turn the planter periodically and pinch elongated tips to encourage branching. Clear dead leaves from the base so they do not remain damp against the stems.
Fine speckling or silver scars on leaves: Inspect leaf surfaces and shoot tips. Webbing with pale stippling suggests spider mites, while silver feeding marks with black specks suggest thrips. Aphids may gather on soft tips. If pests are confirmed, separate the plant and use an appropriate product labelled for the identified pest on indoor ornamentals.

Safety

Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ in Kokodama can irritate skin and the mouth

Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs that may chew it.
Its sap and leaves can irritate sensitive skin, the mouth and the digestive tract.
Exposure may cause red or itchy skin, mouth irritation, drooling or an upset stomach. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop or persist.

Names & etymology

About the name Tradescantia zebrina

Tradescantia commemorates the father and son John Tradescant. The epithet zebrina means zebra-striped and describes the lengthwise bands on the leaves.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Tradescantia in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 288; Heinrich Bernard Ruppius had proposed the name.

Eduard August von Regel first described Tradescantia zebrina in 1846 in Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Land- und Gartenbau, volume 4, page 14.

Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.

Tradescantia zebrina ‘Violet Hill’ in Kokodama FAQs – Watering, Leggy Growth and Easy Propagation

Does it dry out faster in kokodama than in a pot?

It can dry faster in a bright hanging position, but the coconut-fibre exterior does not tell you how moist the roots are. Check the growing medium and the planter weight. When the mix begins to dry, water it directly in small portions, stopping before water collects inside the coated inner cup.

Why is it getting long and sparse?

Long, bare growth usually means it needs brighter light or more regular trimming. Tradescantia responds well to pinching back, which encourages branching and helps stop it from getting stringy.

Can I root cuttings back into the same kokodama?

Stem cuttings readily root at the nodes in water or lightly moist propagation mix. Once rooted, they can be planted in the existing growing medium if there is enough room around the established roots. Otherwise, grow them in a separate small pot.