Buying guide

Buy a Tradescantia (Wandering Dude) Online: Sizes, What to Check, and Where to Buy

By the Plantshop.com Editorial Team · Updated 21 Oct 2026 · How we research · Report an error

Quick verdict

• Buy it if you can give it bright indirect light keeps the purple color.
• Difficulty: Easy · Pets: Not on the ASPCA list by name, but related Tradescantia species are listed as toxic; treat as toxic
• Size to buy: A tabletop pot or a hanging basket; vines can reach Trailing 1-2 ft.
• Where to buy: No shop listing confirmed yet; see the top-rated houseplants shops below, or search Amazon.

Tradescantia zebrina has silver-striped purple leaves and grows fast enough to fill a hanging basket within months. It roots easily from cuttings.

Is a tradescantia (wandering dude) right for you?

It suits you if you can give it bright indirect light keeps the purple color and you are happy to water when the top 1 in of soil is dry. Difficulty: Easy. Not on the ASPCA list by name, but related Tradescantia species are listed as toxic; treat as toxic. Not sure? Try the Plant Finder.

Similar plants to consider: Monstera, Pothos, Snake Plant, ZZ Plant.

Size and age buying guide

Younger or older plant? A younger, smaller plant costs less and settles in easily; an older, larger plant gives you the look straight away but costs more to buy and ship. With a fast growth rate and a mature size of Trailing 1-2 ft, a smaller plant is good value.

Sizes and what you will receive

Online shops sell plants by nursery pot diameter: about 4 in (small, shelf), 6 in (desk or table), 8-10 in (small floor plant) and 12 in and up (floor statement). Height varies a lot within one pot size, so read the listed height too. A mature tradescantia (wandering dude) can reach Trailing 1-2 ft and growth is fast, so a smaller plant grows into its space quickly.

What to check when buying: a healthy tradescantia (wandering dude)

• Firm, evenly colored leaves with no mushy stems at the soil line.
• Soil that is not sour-smelling or waterlogged when it arrives.
• No webbing, sticky residue or tiny moving insects under the leaves.
• Roots, if you peek, that are pale and firm rather than brown and soft.

Problems to know about before buying:

• Bare, leggy stems: Normal with age, or low light; trim and replant cuttings.
• Faded color: Not enough light.
• Crispy leaves: Dried out.

What to check on arrival

1. Photograph the box and the plant before and while you unpack; most guarantees ask for photos.
2. Leaves and stems: firm, evenly colored leaves; no snapped stems or mushy tissue at the soil line.
3. Soil: not sour-smelling or waterlogged.
4. Pests: no webbing, sticky residue or tiny moving insects under the leaves.
5. Size: compare the pot size and height with the listing you ordered.
6. Report problems quickly under the shop’s guarantee.

Problems that often show up after delivery:

• Bare, leggy stems: Normal with age, or low light; trim and replant cuttings.
• Faded color: Not enough light.
• Crispy leaves: Dried out.

Prices

We do not quote prices until we have checked them. They change with pot size, season and sales. To compare fairly, compare the same pot size and check whether a decorative pot and shipping are included.

Shipping and seasonal risks

Tropical plants like this one suffer below about 50°F (10°C). In winter, order from a shop that adds heat packs or holds shipments in freezing weather, and bring the box inside as soon as it arrives. Summer heat in a delivery truck can also damage plants, so avoid long weekends in transit.

Your first week after delivery

1. Unbox right away and photograph any damage; most guarantees need photos within a set window.
2. Water only if the soil is dry; many plants arrive already moist.
3. Give it bright indirect light keeps the purple color, but avoid harsh direct sun for a few days.
4. Keep it away from other plants for one to two weeks in case of pests.
5. Wait two to four weeks before repotting. Full care guide: Tradescantia (Wandering Dude) care.

Where to buy a tradescantia (wandering dude) online, and why

Comparing shops in general? See the best places to buy plants online. No shop listing confirmed yet, so the shops below are labeled as not confirmed. Stock changes daily. We may earn a commission from some links; it never decides what we list. Disclosure.

Honest note: we have not yet confirmed a shop listing for a tradescantia (wandering dude). The shops below sell houseplants and rank highest in our shop ranking; search their site for it, as stock changes often. We will list shops here once we have checked an actual listing.

Compare shipping and guarantee terms side by side in Online plant shop policies compared.

More: Tradescantia (Wandering Dude) care guide · Best online plant shops, ranked · Free plant care calendar