General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9b -3.9 °C (25 °F) to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Plant Height: 4 to 6 inches
Plant Spread: Creeps or trails 6 to 12 inches
Leaves: Good fall color
Unusual foliage color
Evergreen
Other: Bronze-green above and streaked purple on the reverse.
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Blue
Other: Lilac to Violet
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Suitable Locations: Houseplant
Terrariums
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Cuttings: Tip
Division
Offsets
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM

Image
Common names
  • Chain Plant
  • Chainplant
  • Inch Plant
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Callisia navicularis
  • Synonym: Tradescantia navicularis

Photo Gallery
Location: container
Date: 2017-05-19
I love the order of the leaves on this little plant.
  • Uploaded by pod
Location: Botanical Garden of the University of Münster
Date: 2017-09-19

Courtesy Avant Gardens
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Botanical Garden of the University of Münster
Location: Krakow Botanical Garden, Poland
Date: 05/16/2016
photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons
Location: National Botanical Garden, DC, Virginia :) | May, 2022
Date: 2022-05-28

Date: 2012-08-26
A close up of the leaves with a quarter for scale.
  • Uploaded by pod

Photo Courtesy of Mountain Crest Gardens. Used with permission.
  • Uploaded by Joy

Date: 2012-08-26
Callisia navicularis ( with a quarter for scale )
  • Uploaded by pod

Photo courtesy of Kevin Morykwas, Steve's Leaves, Inc.
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by pod (east Texas pineywoods - Zone 8a) on Aug 26, 2012 11:37 AM concerning plant:
    This is a low growing succulent with little boat-shaped leaves of deep greenish-purple color.

    This plant needs bright sun but prefers protection from direct afternoon sun.

    Likes a fair amount of moisture but allow to dry out in between.

    Will bloom with a delicate light purple flower in fall.

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