I’m Avery Rowe (they/them), I’m an independent researcher and tradescantia specialist in the UK. I write everything on this website, and take most of the photos.
I started growing and studying tradescantias in 2020, and quickly realised that almost no-one had ever done any formal research on them in cultivation. Cultivar names were confused, poorly-documented, and information was scattered if it existed at all.
So I started doing the work myself. I was appointed international cultivar registration authority for the Tradescantia genus and then the entire Commelinaceae family, which means I’m officially responsible for keeping track of the correct names for every cultivar in the world. I also maintain the first ever official cultivar checklist, where all the information is free to access online.
From 2023-2025 I held the UK National Plant Collection of tender Tradescantia cultivars, which acts as a living archive of all the tradescantia plants which are grown in the country. When I stepped down the collection was taken over by Rowan Violet in Cornwall. I’ve introduced several new cultivars that I bred myself.
Alongside all this, I research and write educational articles about plant care, fact checks, identification, and naming. I document everything I can about the cultivation of tradescantias, so that in future no-one will have to deal with the mess that I found when I first started! I’ve also written or featured in some academic papers, podcasts, and other publications which I keep track of on this scrapbook page.
I previously ran a small-scale nursery, propagating and selling plants from my collection and exporting worldwide. I now only sell to the UK occasionally – sales will be announced on social media and the mailing list.
I always love finding new information and helping people understand my research! If you want to share any interesting sources, or ask questions about any of my work, feel free to get in touch.
I don’t get paid for being ICRA or doing research. So if you find the information and research on this website useful, you can help me keep making and maintaining it by setting up a regular payment on Patreon.
