Callisia navicularis aka Chainplant

Callisia navicularis is a small evergreen succulent from Mexico. The RHS places its range in eastern and northeastern Mexico. It belongs to the Commelinaceae family. An older name is Tradescantia navicularis. Common names include chain plant and day flower. Kew records it from desert or dry shrubland. It grows as a tender perennial, though gardeners also treat it as an annual.

The plant trails and forms mats as its stems spread. Garden height and spread range from 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. It may take five to ten years to reach full size. Thick, ridged stems branch and root where nodes touch the soil. Short shoots bear tight, overlapping leaves. Longer stolons carry new shoots and flowers. The fleshy leaves have pointed tips and a deep, boat-like curve. Their upper sides can be bronze-green, with dark purple stripes beneath. Fine hairs edge the leaves. Leaf shape and spacing vary with the clone and growing conditions.

Small flowers appear from late spring through summer. The RHS describes pink clusters at the leaf axils. LLIFLE also records flowers at stem tips, from lilac to magenta. Each flower has three petals and six stamens with hairy filaments. The RHS notes yellow stamens. Individual blooms open early and shut in the afternoon. Each lasts just one day. More buds open in turn, with gaps of three to five days.

Give this plant bright, filtered light or some sun. Too little light can lead to weak, stretched growth. Use a coarse potting mix that drains well. The RHS suggests two parts peat-free John Innes No. 2 to one part grit. Water well during active growth, but keep it drier in winter. Feed monthly during the growing season with liquid fertiliser. The RHS rates it H1C and advises winter temperatures above 10°C for outdoor growth. Shelter suits it, with an east- or west-facing position among the RHS options.

Its trailing stems suit hanging baskets, pots, and indoor displays. In warm, sheltered sites, it can serve as ground cover. The RHS also lists rock gardens, patios, and greenhouses as uses. No routine pruning is needed. Stem cuttings and division provide ways to raise more plants. Rooted offsets can also be split from the parent. Several cuttings in one pot help make a fuller plant. The RHS reports few usual pest or disease problems.