I "adopted" this plant after a family member moved, but I'm not sure what it is (see photo). My wife thought it might be a Wandering Jew, but searching Google Images for that seems to show primarily plants with variegated leaves, or those where the tops of the leaves are purple and the bottoms green like "Purple Heart"; this is the opposite with green on top and purple underneath. It doesn't look like a plant that would grow upright, but more like a vine.

Hoping someone might be able to identify this.

subtropix said:Rhoeo discolor, but also classified in the genus Tradescantia (also known by the common name, Moses in the Cradle), regardless they are close kin to Wandering Jews. Naturalized in South Florida.

Thanks for the response. 👍 Google Lens also suggested this (also called it an oyster plant), but I wasn't sure since the image results looked like it grows in more upright clumps rather than hanging vines. But will see what happens as it grows.

I think it's a variety of Tradescantia pallida; some have green leaves with purple reverse, others are purple on both upper and lower sides and still others have variegated upper surface with purple reverse. I grew one years ago whose upper leaves started out green but turned greenish-purple at some point. I'm not sure if it had something to do with light levels, temperature, or a combination of both.

It is a Tradescantia but I don't know that its Tradescantia spathacea (Rhoeo discolor is a synonym). We don't use the common name Wandering Jew as its derogatory.

Yes, pallida was my thought.

T pallida

Agree, T. pallida.

It does grow more like a groundcover or vine than upright, but is amenable to being manually guided upward.

I think the habit may vary with conditions.. I grow it in a lot of sun in summer.