It is the most common and widely distributed species of Tradescantia in the United States, where it can be found from Maine in the northeast, west to Minnesota, and south to Texas and Florida.

It also has a very small distribution in Canada in extreme southern Ontario near Windsor.

[4][5][6] Distinguishing features of the species include glaucous leaves and stems, leaves forming an acute angle with the stems, sepals with hairs lacking glands which are confined to the apex if present at all, and a relatively tall habit (up to about 115 cm).

Typical habitats for the plant include roadsides, along railroads, and in fields and thickets.

Leaves of the plant are mucilaginous and can be used to soothe insect bites in a similar way to aloe vera.