Thick stems carry broad, leathery, lance-shaped leaves striped grey-green, pink and cream, with pink and violet undersides. Tradescantia ‘Nanouk’ (Tradescantia albiflora ‘Nanouk’) is grown as an easy houseplant that roots readily from cuttings; give it plenty of bright light but no harsh afternoon sun, and those colours stay vivid.
| Name | Tradescantia albiflora ‘Nanouk’ |
|---|---|
| Family | Commelinaceae |
| Type | Perennial plant |
| Shape | Upright, compact |
| Height | 8 inches to 3 feet (20 cm to 1 m) |
| Exposure | Bright (no direct sun) |
| Watering | Consistent and moderate |
| Repotting | Spring |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Blooming | Summer (tiny flowers, though) |
It’s particularly easy to grow and care for, and propagates successfully from cuttings.
Grow your tradescantia nanouk in spaces enjoying temperatures above 50-55°F (above 12°C), but never exceeding 100°F (37°C).
This grass-related plant doesn’t like the cold: keep it away from temperatures below 41°F (below 5°C).
To get even more lively-colored leaves, T. Nanouk needs a lot of natural light. In low light, you might end up with regular, duller-looking leaves. But in all cases, try to avoid direct, harsh afternoon sun: it’s likely to burn the leaves and dry them out from the edges.
→ See it growing on an indoor plant wall.
Tradescantia roots well in draining soil mix. Mix up garden soil with coarse sand, compost, or manure, nothing more is needed.
→ Warning: Tradescantia sap contains harmful chemicals. Skin gets irritated when touched. Gastro issues when ingested. Keep pets and toddlers away.
Your tradescantia nanouk can’t stand too much water. Wait until soil dries before watering again. A weekly splash works like a charm. Remember to always empty the saucer under your pot.
Similarly, over-fertilizing might cause leaf tip burns. Every 6 to 8 weeks, treat your tradescantia to some diluted liquid fertilizer – just make sure it’s half-strength.
For a fuller plant, pinch longer stems now and then. Don’t hesitate to trim stems that spread out too much.
Repot your Tradescantia albiflora ‘Nanouk’ in spring if it starts outgrowing its pot and threatens to tip it over.
Propagating T. ‘Nanouk’ through cuttings is quite simple. Here’s how:
You can also root your cuttings in water, provided it’s chlorine-free and the cutting enjoys bright, indirect light. Once roots emerge, plant it in soil or let it thrive in water.
Over-watering can lead to fungal infections and tradescantia root rot. So, never let soil get too soggy. Conversely, a dry plant becomes a magnet for spider mites.
Almost everything that goes wrong with a ‘Nanouk’ comes down to water, light or feed. Use this table to match what you are seeing on the plant with its likely cause.
| Problem | What you see | Cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root rot and fungal infection | Limp stems, soil permanently wet | Too much water, saucer left full | Let the soil dry between waterings and empty the saucer |
| Spider mites | Fine webbing, stippled dry leaves | Plant kept too dry | Water consistently and moderately |
| Scorched leaves | Burnt leaves drying from the edges | Direct, harsh afternoon sun | Move to bright but indirect light |
| Burnt leaf tips | Brown, crisp tips | Over-feeding | Half-strength liquid feed every 6 to 8 weeks |
| Faded colours | Plain, duller-looking leaves | Not enough natural light | Give it a much brighter spot |
| Straggly, bare stems | Stems spreading out and thinning | No pinching | Pinch the longer stems and trim what spreads too far |
Correcting the cause usually matters far more than treating the symptom.
Common Name: Tradescantia nanouk, Fantasy Venice, Wandering Jew, Dayflower
Origin: North and South America
Tradescantia albiflora ‘Nanouk’ boasts a compact perennial form. It stands proud at first, but eventually cascades to all sides and overflows from its pot.
The ‘Nanouk’ gives a striking impression at first glance, with thick stems and leathery, broad, lance-shaped leaves that curve slightly. These leaves are dressed in gray-green with light pink and cream-white stripes. Flip them over, and you’ll see shades of pink and violet.
→ Blooming fact: Most tradescantias bloom in spring or summer. But blink, and you might miss it. Their flowers last just a day. Hence, Dayflower isn’t just a pretty name—it’s spot-on!
The Tradescantia genus spans 75 perennial varieties native to the Americas. T. ‘Nanouk’ is a new variety, born in the Netherlands in 2012 from the cross-breeding of two Tradescantia albiflora species.
