← Plant Guides

How to Grow Trailing Blue

Wikimedia Commons

Trailing Blue

Tradescantia fluminensis 'Trailing Blue'

herb

Trailing Blue is a cultivar of spiderwort with delicate blue flowers and trailing or cascading foliage, making it an excellent choice for hanging baskets and containers. This tender perennial is valued for its ornamental appeal and ease of cultivation indoors or in mild climates. The plant produces small, three-petaled blue flowers and narrow, lance-shaped green leaves.

When should you plant Trailing Blue in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Trailing Blue timeline →

Example Trailing Blue timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Trailing Blue

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Trailing Blue

    Late summer into fall

    Before the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Trailing Blue dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Bright, indirect light; tolerates partial shade but flowers best with 4-6 hours of indirect light daily
💧
Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; reduce watering in winter. Water when top inch of soil feels dry. Prefers humidity.
📏
Spacing: 6-8 inches between plants inches
📅
Days to maturity: Not applicable; ornamental plant valued at any size
🌱
Planting depth: Plant at same depth as nursery pot; shallow planting for trailing effect

Soil

Type: Well-draining potting soil
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
Perlite for drainage Peat moss or coco coir Compost for organic matter

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 10b-11; grow as houseplant in cooler zones

10b 11a 11b

Sign up free to see if Trailing Blue grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.

Get my Trailing Blue timeline →

Growth Stages

1

Establishment

2-4 weeks

Young plant with sparse trailing stems and new leaf emergence

Keep in bright, indirect light; maintain consistent moisture; avoid direct sun which can scorch leaves

2

Vegetative Growth

4-8 weeks

Stems lengthen, foliage fills out, plant develops trailing habit with multiple leaf nodes

Pinch back growing tips to encourage bushiness; fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer

3

Flowering

Spring through summer, 2-3 months or longer

Delicate small blue or blue-purple three-petaled flowers appear along stems at leaf nodes

Maintain bright light to maximize blooms; continue regular feeding; deadhead spent flowers if desired

4

Mature/Trailing

Ongoing

Plant reaches full trailing length with cascading stems and continuous light flowering

Prune occasionally to maintain shape; reduce fertilizer in winter; monitor for pests in indoor settings

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Pothos Philodendron Ivy Petunia Dusty Miller Sweet Potato Vine

Avoid planting near:

Plants requiring very dry conditions Competing aggressive vines

Common Pests

  • Increase humidity; mist regularly; rinse leaves with water; use neem oil if severe

  • Isolate plant; remove with cotton swabs dipped in alcohol; spray with insecticidal soap

  • Inspect regularly; remove by hand; treat with horticultural oil or neem oil

  • Use yellow sticky traps; increase air circulation; spray with insecticidal soap

Uses

🌿

Hanging Baskets & Container Gardens

Ornamental

Trailing Blue is ideal for hanging baskets, wall-mounted planters, and cascading container displays indoors and on patios. Its delicate blue flowers and trailing habit create elegant decorative arrangements. [source]

🏠

Indoor Air Quality

Household

As a relative of Tradescantia zebrina, Trailing Blue may help filter indoor air while adding visual interest to homes and offices. The plant is safe for homes with pets and children. [source]

🎨

Easy Propagation & Sharing

Craft

Trailing Blue propagates effortlessly from cuttings rooted in water, making it an excellent plant for propagation projects and sharing with gardening friends. Cuttings develop roots within 1-2 weeks. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Attraction

Wildlife

The delicate blue flowers attract small pollinators and beneficial insects when grown outdoors, supporting local ecosystems. The open three-petaled blooms are easily accessible to various pollinators. [source]

Harvest Tips

This is an ornamental plant not typically harvested for consumption. Pinch back stems regularly to encourage bushy growth and prevent legginess. Take 4-6 inch stem cuttings year-round for propagation; root in water or moist soil.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Trailing Blue is part of the Tradescantia genus, also known as spiderwort, which has over 75 species native to the Americas.
  • 🌱 The three-petaled flowers are characteristic of Tradescantia and open in the morning, often closing by afternoon on hot days.
  • 🌱 Tradescantia plants are named 'spiderwort' because the juice from their leaves resembles spider silk when drawn between two fingers.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Cultivar Deadhead Partial Shade Perennial Pinch Back
Shop Trailing Blue plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Trailing Blue planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Trailing Blue seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Trailing Blue timeline →