水竹草屬多年生草本，原產中美洲至南美洲北部，入侵全球熱帶氣候區，臺灣山野亦被侵入。莖匍匐於地面或懸垂。葉片橢圓形，葉面紫或綠色，有兩道銀白色條紋，背面紫紅色。花頂生於苞片內，玫瑰色，花全年不定期開放。果實為蒴果。

A perennial herb in the genus Tradescantia, native to Central America and the north of South America, and now invasive in tropical regions worldwide including Taiwan. Stems decumbent on the ground or drooping. Leaves oval, upper surface purple or green with two silver-white stripes, and purplish red below. Terminal flowers borne in bracts and rosy in color, flowering in irregular timing throughout the year. The fruit is a capsule.

全日照或半日照均可，喜高溫多濕，過度陰暗易徒長且葉色不佳。對土壤要求不嚴，以疏鬆、肥沃、排水良好的土壤為宜。以扦插、分株或壓條繁殖。

It grows in full-sun or partial-sun environments and prefers high temperature and humidity; lacking of sunlight will cause water sprouts and dull leaf color. It’s not picky on soils, but prefers loose, fertile and well-drained soils. Propagated by cuttings, ramets or layering.

匍匐擴展性佳，適合遮蔭環境做地被植物使用。葉片色彩特殊觀賞性高，作為小品盆栽、吊盆植物都適宜。極易扦插繁殖，適合作為園藝治療活動的教材。

Featuring with decumbent and spreading properties, it’s a great groundcover plant in shades. This foliage ornamental can be planted in small pots or hanging baskets to display the foliage color. The plant is easy to propagate by cuttings and an excellent material used in horticultural therapy activities.