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Wandering Jew
Tradescantia zebrina
Plantae›Tracheophyta›Liliopsida›Commelinales›Commelinaceae
📍 Southern Mexico and Central America
A vigorous, fast grower that roots effortlessly — trail the stems above water with roots submerged for an efficient nitrate-absorbing biofilter on HOB or open-top tanks. Medium-to-bright indirect light.
Grown with its roots in the tank water and its leaves in the air — a living nitrate filter, not a submerged aquarium plant. Give it bright indirect light; no aquarium CO₂ or substrate needed.
Sap is a mild skin/gut irritant (ASPCA lists it as toxic) — keep the foliage away from plant-grazing fish; the submerged roots are fine.
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Quick Facts
- light
- Medium to bright indirect
- biofilter
- true
- placement
- Emersed — roots in water, leaves in air
- growth rate
- fast
Legality
No state or federal restrictions on record for this species.
Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and locality and change over time — always confirm the current regulations with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping, or shipping this species.