# Moses-in-the-cradle (*Tradescantia spathacea*)

Moses-in-the-cradle is a beautiful plant with green leaves and purple flowers. It loves to grow in warm places and can be found in many gardens and homes.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Urban areas
- **Also known as:** Boat Lily

![Moses-in-the-cradle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Tradescantia_spathacea-Yucatan.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Jim Conrad, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tradescantia_spathacea-Yucatan.jpg)

## Appearance

The Moses-in-the-cradle has striking, sword-shaped leaves that are dark green on top and vibrant purple underneath. Its small, white or pinkish flowers are nestled within unique boat-shaped purple bracts, resembling tiny cradles.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Commelinales
- **Family:** Commelinaceae
- **Genus:** Tradescantia

## Interesting facts

- Its purple sap was once used as a natural dye for cloth!
- More sunlight makes its leaves turn an even brighter, richer purple color!
- New plants can sprout easily from just a leaf or stem cutting!
- Some call it 'oyster plant' because its flower bracts look like tiny shells!

## Special abilities

- **Sun Guard:** Its purple leaf undersides contain pigments that protect the plant from too much intense sunlight.
- **Flower Cradle:** The unique boat-shaped bracts act like a cradle, protecting its tiny, delicate flowers as they grow.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-30 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Year-round
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees visit its small, hidden flowers for nectar.
- **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Snails sometimes munch on its succulent leaves.
- **Eaten by:** Two-spotted spider mite (*Tetranychus urticae*) — Tiny mites can sometimes feed on its leaves.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always wash your hands after touching plants, just in case.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Moses-in-the-cradle?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Moses-in-the-cradle?

15-30 cm

### How wide does Moses-in-the-cradle spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Moses-in-the-cradle?

1-2 cm

### When does Moses-in-the-cradle bloom?

Year-round

### Is Moses-in-the-cradle edible?

No

### Is Moses-in-the-cradle toxic?

Mild

### What is Moses-in-the-cradle's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Kahaluu Bay](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kahaluu-bay) — Hawaii, US · Historic District
- [Sandsprit Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sandsprit-park) — Florida, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Moses-in-the-cradle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moses-in-the-cradle)