Any of 20 or more erect to trailing, weak-stemmed herbs native to North and South America that make up the genus Tradescantia (family Commelinaceae).
Several species are grown as indoor plants in baskets, especially the wandering Jews ( T. albiflora , with green leaves, and T. fluminensis , with purplish underleaves). White velvet, or white-gossamer ( T. sillamontana ), has leaves and stems covered with a whitish fuzz. Chain plant ( T. navicularis ) has fleshy, narrow, lengthwise-folded leaves. Common spiderwort, or widow's tears ( T. virginiana ), is an upright, juicy-stemmed garden plant with white to purple flowers. Because they are easy to propagate, spiderworts are very popular indoor plants.