Plant guide
Small-leaf spiderwort
Tradescantia fluminensis
Small-leaf spiderwort is toxic to cats. Contact can irritate a cat’s skin. Keep it away from places your cat rubs against or chews plants; seek veterinary advice if irritation develops.
What this guide covers: Tradescantia fluminensis only. Confirm the botanical label; a photograph cannot identify a visitor’s specimen.
Photo:
Photo details
NC State Extension — Tradescantia fluminensis
By LucaLuca
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Original photograph unchanged; proportionally resized for review and display.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
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Photo:
Photo details
NC State Extension — Tradescantia fluminensis
By LucaLuca
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Original photograph unchanged; proportionally resized for review and display.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
Variegated Tradescantia fluminensis plant
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Keep away from cats. We do not recommend this plant for a home where cats could reach it.
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Look for Tradescantia fluminensis and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Tradescantia fluminensis
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
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How to grow this plant
Tradescantia fluminensis only; the care categories summarize the cited growing guidance.
- Light
- Bright indirect light
Give bright, indirect light and protection from intense afternoon sun.
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist
Maintain moist, well-drained soil.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
A preferred numerical growing range was not established in the reviewed source.
- Potting
- Use a freely draining potting mix.
- Through the year
- Pinch trailing stems for bushier growth and keep discarded cuttings from spreading outdoors.
Growing-guide sources
- Tradescantia fluminensis identity and growing guidance ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
Exact named plant; outdoor and seasonal conditions retain their original context. Temperature coverage records that this review did not establish a preferred numerical growing range; it does not supply one.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-17. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Severity
- Severity not established
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.
Sources & review
- Small-leaf spiderwort cat/pet safety reference ↗ASPCA · Accessed
Listed by the source as Tradescantia flumeninsis. ASPCA’s Variegated Inch Plant entry uses the spelling “Tradescantia flumeninsis” and lists dermatitis in cats. NC State identifies T. fluminensis, including variegated forms, and corroborates contact irritation. The spelling correction is disclosed; no unsupported clinical severity is assigned.
- Small-leaf spiderwort cat/pet safety reference ↗ASPCA · Accessed 2026-10-17
- Tradescantia fluminensis botanical identity ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
ASPCA’s Variegated Inch Plant entry uses the spelling “Tradescantia flumeninsis” and lists dermatitis in cats. NC State identifies T. fluminensis, including variegated forms, and corroborates contact irritation. The spelling correction is disclosed; no unsupported clinical severity is assigned.
- Small-leaf spiderwort: supporting reference ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
Safety last reviewed .