Tradescantia sillamontana (white velvet)

Japanese name: トラデスカンティア シラモンタナ
Scientific name: Tradescantia sillamontana

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial 30 cm tall.
The whole plant is covered with long white hairs.
The stems creep along the ground and root at the nodes.
The leaves are simple and alternate, ovate, 3–8 cm long and about 4 cm wide, fleshy, with pointed tips.
The leaf base clasps the stem.
A cyme emerges at the stem tip, enclosed by 2 leaf-like bracts.
The flowers are pink to pale reddish purple, about 3 cm across, with 3 petals.
There are 6 stamens, and the filaments are hairy.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by division or stem cuttings.
In regions without frost it can overwinter outdoors.
The above-ground part dies back when exposed to cold, but if it does not freeze it will sprout in spring.
In other regions, bring it indoors to a sunny spot in winter.
It prefers sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
In shade it becomes leggy and weak, loses its white hairs, and flowers poorly.
It is resistant to dryness, and the white hairs on the leaves are more conspicuous if it is kept on the dry side throughout the year, so for potted plants, water thoroughly after the soil dries from spring to autumn and reduce watering to about 1–2 times a month in winter.
When watering, pour the water at the base of the plant, avoiding the leaves as much as possible.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long sunny spell and the soil becomes severely dry.
Too much fertilizer makes it leggy and reduces flowering, so for plants in the ground base fertilizer is enough and no more is needed, and for potted plants apply only a small amount of slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil in spring and autumn.
Pests and diseases include southern blight, seedling rot, gray mold and scale insects.

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