The main use of Tradescantia spathacea is as ornamentals and houseplants in tropical and temperate regions where this plant has been extensively commercialised for many years, as mentioned earlier this plant was introduced to other countries in the 1800’s. (3) There are many plants of this growing in the Americas bed in our Tropical Glasshouse.
It is also used in traditional medicine in Mexico and southeast Asia, where the flowers and leaves are used to treat cancer, superficial mycoses, coughs, colds, and dysentery. Scientific papers on the medicinal value of Tradescantia spathacea have been published, and it has been reported to possess anti-microbial, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-fertility activities. (8)