Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’

Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate' (Tradescantia x andersoniana 'Sweet Kate') pairs golden chartreuse strappy foliage with deep blue three petalled flowers, one of the sharpest contrasts in any perennial border. It forms a clump about 40cm tall and 40cm wide, happiest in the damp, awkward spots where most edging plants sulk.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage does the heavy lifting. The golden leaves light up a shaded bed all season, with the blue flowers a bonus on top.
• It likes wet feet. Damp ground beside a downpipe, a pond edge or a poorly drained corner suits it, which is unusual in a perennial this ornamental.
• Frost hardy. It handles cold southern winters, dying back and reshooting from the crown in spring.
• Fast to establish. A quick growing clump former, so a border fills within a single season rather than three.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 30cm apart for a continuous golden ribbon along the front of a bed. The colour is strong, so it works best against dark green foliage.

Groundcover and mass planting. The same 30cm spacing gives full cover in a season under deciduous trees and along damp fence lines.

Pots and containers. A 250mm pot holds a clump neatly and keeps it out of beds where a spreader is not wanted.

Growing Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate' in Australia

Position and climate. Morning sun with afternoon shade gives the best leaf colour. Full sun bleaches and scorches the golden foliage in hot inland gardens, while deep shade turns it green. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and subtropical gardens.

Soil. Moisture retentive and enriched with compost. It tolerates heavy soil and short periods of waterlogging, which is where it outperforms liriope or mondo grass.

Water and feed. Keep it consistently moist through spring and summer; this is not a plant to let dry out. A slow release fertiliser in early spring is plenty, and too much nitrogen gives leaves at the expense of flowers.

Pruning and division. Shear the clump back close to the ground after the main flowering flush for fresh foliage and a second round of flowers. Divide every three to four years in early spring.

What to expect when it arrives

Sweet Kate is supplied as tube stock: young rooted divisions, usually a small fan of leaves rather than a full clump. A tube planted in spring is a proper clump by the end of summer.

Tubes travel upright in trays. Plant within a week into moist soil, water in well, and expect new growth within two to three weeks in the warmer months. If they arrive during a cold snap, pot them on and hold them sheltered until the soil warms. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse other groundcover plants
• Dealing with a waterlogged garden
• Mass planting plants for drifts and edging
• Frost hardy plants for cold gardens

Common questions

Is it safe around pets?

Not entirely. The sap can irritate the skin and mouth of cats and dogs that chew the leaves, so it is not one we list as pet friendly. Wear gloves when dividing if your skin is sensitive.

Why has it stopped flowering by midsummer?

That is normal. Cut the clump back hard after the first flush and it will regrow fresh golden foliage and flower again in late summer.

Does it die back in winter?

In cool temperate gardens, yes. The top growth disappears over winter and the crown reshoots in early spring. In subtropical gardens it usually stays evergreen.