It’s challenging because the way our property is oriented, I have very few locations that offer partial sun. If a plant prefers full sun or full shade, it will be very happy in my yard.

Didn’t realize though that oyster plants could be coaxed to grow on trees. What an interesting idea!

Thanks for your comment.

This clump of Tradescantia spathacea is located opposite the tennis courts, to be exact. You are also quite right to mention that they have been staying roughly the same size all this while.

The creeping Tradescantia, T. pedula, you mentioned, may not be able to make it if no one waters them during prolonged dry weather, in the same setting, that is, on a tree trunk. Tradescantia spathacea is more succulent and probably more able to withstand dry periods longer than the viny, thin T. pedula.

Nevertheless, it is a good suggestion for a dense tropical garden where there is regular irregulation or misting. It will really look more at home on a tree trunk than T. spathacea.

Wilson

When I first came upon these plants many years ago, I actually did a double-take & went closer to scrutinise them. Agree that they must be mounted onto the trunk (tree holes & ledges), but it was very nicely-done, so don’t they look just right at home there ?

Have you observed them spreading epiphytically on the tree ? Judging from your photos, the clump looks around the same size as I remembered whenever I passed by that stretch. Perhaps the creeping/hanging Tradescantia spp. would be able to spread more easily. I haven’t seen these being grown directly onto a tree before, but I find it possible to let them creep/climb along flat-face media (eg. peat blocks … I think rockwool slabs will do as well). The latter had been placed vertically, such that it rather resembles a tree trunk surface.