Species boat lily

boat lily

Tradescantia spathacea

Also Known As - boat lily
The boat lily (Tradescantia spathacea) is an attractive and easy-to-grow indoor houseplant. It is native to Central and South America. It has sword-like, pointed leaves, and its petioles hold up each supple, waxy blade. The leaves are pinkish-purple or silvery-green, depending on the light in your home. It has tiny white flowers on delicate, off-white spathes that sit atop long, thick flower stalks. The plant produces rhizomes, which can easily be separated and propagated to produce more boat lilies. It's a marvelously exotic addition to any home, and it tolerates low light and occasionally neglect.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Division

Hardiness Zone:

9 - 11

Flowers:

White with blue blush Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Fruits:

pink,white Fruits Ready In Summer

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,purple

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Indoors:

Yes

watering

Boat Lilies require medium to high water levels. During the growing season from March to October, a boat lily should be watered weekly, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. During the winter months, when the plant is not actively growing, reduce watering to once every 2 or 3 weeks. It’s best to water boat lilies in the morning, so that the leaves have time to dry off before nightfall. Too much moisture on the leaves can lead to fungal diseases.

sunlight

Boat lily needs plenty of bright indirect sunlight throughout the day, with about 5 or 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. The best times to provide direct sunlight are during the morning and late afternoon hours when the sun is not too harsh. This will help to not only promote healthy leaves but also promote intense blooming of its beautiful flowers.

pruning

Boat lilies prefer to be minimally pruned, as they are a low-growing plant species. Pruning should be done after the plant blooms, and only lightly, to shape the foliage and encourage new growth. If pruning is necessary when the plant is not in bloom, take off the outermost layer of dead foliage and stems, and then trim about 10-15% of the overall height. Prune any stems that look too weak or have begun to merge with other branches. Additionally, if the plant becomes too wide, prune some of fan-like growth and thin it out sparingly to limit growth. It's best to prune boat lilies in late winter or the early spring to avoid further damaging the plant.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Tradescantia spathacea typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Tradescantia spathacea typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Harvest Fruit

Tradescantia spathacea is typically harvested in the summer months, from June to August.

Hardiness Map