---
title: "Hi there! Can anyone help me identify this plant? My grandmother gave…"
description: "Hi there! Can anyone help me identify this plant? My grandmother gave it to me and has dubbed it “The ugly plant”. Anything helps!"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/64fa807665d2153f2b9d8cdb"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Ashleyh"
published: "2023-09-08T02:01:26.27Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/EjNJXjc20NICNZo6P7H1FqAUxFMWJRcw-yZxnrgcmHU/824b4734e33d4d668e48fc40c5770e24.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hi there! Can anyone help me identify this plant? My grandmother gave…

_Posted by Ashleyh on 2023-09-08_

Hi there! Can anyone help me identify this plant? My grandmother gave it to me and has dubbed it “The ugly plant”. Anything helps!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/EjNJXjc20NICNZo6P7H1FqAUxFMWJRcw-yZxnrgcmHU/824b4734e33d4d668e48fc40c5770e24.webp?size=large)

## 7 comments

### Sunny commented on 2023-09-08

It looks like a tradescantia. It’s hard to tell with the condition of the plant.

#### Ashleyh replied on 2023-09-08

Yeah it was in her entryway, which doesn’t get a lot of direct light. I almost wonder if I should take clippings and try propagating to see how if it would grow differently

#### Sunny replied on 2023-09-08

You can take cuttings. First, try to find the cause. Is it under or over watering? Check the roots. Is it lack of fertilizer, low humidity?

#### Ashleyh replied on 2023-09-08

I do live in eastern Washington, so it’s a low humidity area

#### Sunny replied on 2023-09-08

You can raise humidity by placing a pebble tray of water under the plant or add a humidifier.

### Anton commented on 2023-09-08

It’s a boat lily, Tradescantia spathacea 🙂

### Bz commented on 2023-09-08

Super easy to propagate. Take cuttings at each node and then use a stick or pencil to make a small hole in the soil and place them back into the same pot. You will get a fuller plant and encourage growth. as well.

Alternatively, you can root the cuttings in water and then repot the existing plant in fresh, well draining new soil and add your cuttings later.

Tradescantia don’t like to dry out completely but also don’t like to sit in wet soil.

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