This tropical species from Central America is often cultivated as a house-plant. It can sometimes establish temporarily from escaped or discarded plantings, but it is not truly naturalized in the U.S.A. except perhaps on the Gult Coastal Plain and s. Fla. (K). There are colls. from BARR (DHL) and LYON (APSC). There is also a dubious record from Ky. of the similar sprawling Asian species, Tradescantia fluminensis Vell. (M; Campbell et al. 1992). In North America, that species is well-established only in warmer parts of the Gulf Coastal Plain and Fla. (K, SE). Also expected, at least in gardens, is T. pallida (Rose) D.R. Hunt; this Mexican species is scattered across southern states, especially around old buildings and landfills (FNA 22).