Distinguishing variegated Tradescantia zebrina cultivars

There are three different cultivars of Tradescantia zebrina with sectoral variegation – meaning the leaves have random pale sections as well as the regular silver bands that T. zebrina usually share.

The three cultivars are ‘Quadricolor’, ‘Discolor Multicolor’, and ‘HappiLee’, and they can all look quite similar. Like many tradescantias they’re also often mislabelled. So here are some tips for distinguishing between them.

Silver bands

The number one distinguishing feature is the shape of the silver bands themselves. It’s tempting to pay attention to the shape or colour of the pale sectors because they’re what make all these cultivars distinctive. But in reality, all of these cultivars can have anything from 0-100% of the leaf surface made of pale tissue. And, like all tradescantias, in different growing conditions the leaves can change colour drastically – these cultivars can have any blend of white, pink, cream, purple, green, and silver!

Instead, the best way to identify one of these variegated cultivars is to look for a leaf which has few or no pale stripes – so that it’s easy to see the underlying silver band. Look at the shape of its outline, and how wide it is relative to the leaf.

On ‘Quadricolor’, the silver bands are very wide – taking up at least half the total width of the leaf. The silver is solid, and the outline of the band is smooth.

On ‘Discolor Multicolor’, the silver bands are thin, no more than a third the width of the leaf. The outlines are smooth, but the bands have a streaked and sometimes gappy appearance.

On ‘HappiLee’, the silver bands are medium width – generally between a third and half the total leaf width. Their outlines have distinctive zigzags and notches, giving a jagged overall appearance.

Hairs

The amount of hair on any tradescantia can vary in different conditions, so this isn’t a good characteristic to rely on completely. But it can be a way to confirm the identity of a plant.

‘HappiLee’ leaves have small hairs scattered over the surface.

In contrast, both ‘Quadricolor’ and ‘Discolor Multicolor’ tend to have smooth and hairless leaves.