Wandering Jew

Tradescantia albiflora
Family: Commelinaceae

Growth Habit: Wandering Jew is an aggressive scrambling creeper that can smother other plants as it forms a mat-like cover of the ground it occupies. It has smooth, dark green leaves.

Type of Plant: Sprawling, fleshy, perennial plant that may also produce erect stems.

Flowers: Small, white three petalled flowers which appear in summer in clusters at the end of the stems. These flowers have yellow tipped stamens.

Dispersal: It has trailing succulent stems which root at the nodes and form new plants. It can also reproduce from stem fragments broken from the parent plant.

Distribution: A garden escapee which thrives in moist, shady places.

Status: Undeclared in Tasmania

Weed Impact:

  • It competes with other species as it dominates the soil surface.
  • Well known to cause allergic reactions to dogs.

For further information contact the Department of Primary Industry, Water and Environment, Tasmania.

Control Methods:

  • Grubbing. Take care to remove entire plant. To dispose, burn or place in a heavy-duty plastic bag and seal. Do not dump as this plant can reroot after initial removal and can cause serious problems in natural areas.
  • Herbicide. Spot spray. Herbicides registered in Tasmania include metsulfuron and glyphosate.

N.B. Always check the herbicide label before use.