多年生草本，莖柔弱，半弱質，多分枝，披散，光滑或被疏毛。葉無柄，葉片橢圓形至矩圓形，長 3~7 公分，寬 1.5~3 公分，鞘頂端、基部或全部疏被長毛，葉片的先端短尖，上面紫綠色雜以銀白色，中部邊緣具紫色條紋，背面紫紅色。花頂生簇聚於一大一小之苞片狀葉內；萼片 3 枚，合生成圓柱形管狀，長 0.6 公分；花冠管白色，纖弱，長 0.1 公分，裂片 3 枚，玫瑰色，長約 0.3 公分，雄蕊 6 枚，子房 3 室。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.

吊竹草生命力強健，性喜高溫潮溼的環境，全日照或是半日照都能生長。 吊竹梅的蔓性莖可以沿著地面匍匐生長，每一莖節都能長出根來。一般使用扦插法繁殖。

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.

全草有毒，但具藥用價值。

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.