Description
Callisia – Phyodina –
There are about 20 species of creeping, spreading, or sub erect, evergreen perennial and rarely annuals, in this genus. They occur from forest margins in Southeastern USA, Mexico, and tropical North and South America. They are grown for their attractive, alternate, succulent leaves. The flowers, borne in paired curled cymes or terminal panicles, are white or pink, with 3 sepals and 3 petals.
Grow in gritty, well drained soil in partial shade.
Prone to a variety of fungal leaf spots.
C. naviculaaris – Tradescantia navicularis – China Plant – This slow growing, succulent perennial from Northeastern and Eastern Mexico grows 4″ tall and 12″ wide. It produces tufts of dense foliage and long trailing shoots rooting at the internodes. It produces broadly ovate to lance shaped leaves, 1″ long, are dull copper-green above and purple striped beneath. From summer to autumn it bears bright magenta flowers, to 3/4″ across, in curled cymes, 2″ long.
Zones 6-8
