Tradescantia

Being stuck at home doesn't mean there's nothing we can do to protect our environment. Over the next few weeks, we'd like to share with you some of NZ's invasive weeds and how we can get rid of them from our own backyards.
First up, Tradescantia, also known as Wandering Jew or Wandering Willie which is a creeping and mat-forming perennial groundcover with creeping stems that root at all nodes touching the ground.
Tradescantia is tolerant of light to deep shade which means it can take hold in even intact forest and form dense mats on the forest floor, smothering vegetation and preventing native regeneration. This can causes habitats to open to more light and be invaded by exotic shrubs and vines. Mats growing on riverbanks can break away with water flow and contribute to flooding.