Details
| Full name | Tradescantia pallida ‘Shadow Hill’. |
| Name status | Accepted, the valid name for a unique cultivar. Established by Hillplant B.V. (2003). Because it is a legal protection registration, the name is established (Brickell et al., 2016, Art. 27.5). Also known as:
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| Origins | Mutation from Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’ (Hillplant B.V., 2003). |
| Classification | The species Tradescantia pallida is sometimes labelled with its botanical synonyms Setcreasea pallida and Setcreasea purpurea. |
| Legal protection | Previously registered for plant breeder’s rights in the Netherlands, but surrendered in 2004 (Hillplant B.V., 2003). |
| Availability | Available occasionally from collectors and specialists. |
Description
Preserved in a herbarium specimen (“Tradescantia pallida ‘Shadow Hill'”, 2023).
Described with reference to the RHS Colour Chart (6th Edition; 2019 reprint).
The entire plant can vary its appearance dramatically in different conditions – changing in growth habit, leaf shape, size, hairiness, and colour. It’s impossible to cover every possible variation, but this general summary describes a healthy plant grown in typical indoor conditions (moderate light) and outdoors in full sun (intense light).
| Species | Tradescantia pallida. |
| Growth habit | Stems are initially upright, but start to sprawl and trail as they get longer. |
| Foliage | Stems are 4-7mm thick, with internodes 2-6cm long, smooth and hairless. In moderate light the stems are moderate olive brown (N199A), in intense light dark purplish grey (N187A). Leaves are narrow ovals, 6-12cm long and 2-4cm wide. In moderate light the upper surfaces are greyish olive green (NN137A) to dark purplish grey (N187A), with strong yellow green (143A) margins. In intense light the upper surfaces are dark greyish green (N189A) to dark purplish grey (N187A), with very narrow pale margins. The undersides are greyish yellow green (191A) with contrasting veins from moderate yellow green (137A) to dark purplish grey (N187A). Sheaths range from moderate yellow green (147C) to greyish purple (N187B). The foliage has a greyish cast from a powdery coating. The leaves usually have scattered hairs on the upper and lower surfaces. |
| Flowers | Petals are light purple (76A) or light reddish purple (N75A), sometimes with paler streaks. The petals are unusually narrow and pointed compared to other T. pallida cultivars. |
References
Hillplant B.V. (2003, January 21). Tradescantia ‘Shadow Hill’ [Netherlands plant breeder’s rights registration 20721]. Community Plant Variety Office. Registration document link.
Brickell, C. D., Alexander, C., Cubey, J. J., David, J. C., Hoffman, M. H. A., Leslie, A. C., Malécot, V., Jin, X. (2016). International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. PDF link.
Tradescantia pallida ‘Shadow Hill’. (2023). [Herbarium specimen, barcode WSY0168557]. RHS Wisley Herbarium.