You may have noticed most garden centres and houseplant stores have stopped using the common name 'wandering Jew', instead using its proper scientific name tradescantia, or other common names of zebrina, inchplant or spiderwort.
Or maybe you found your way here after been alerted to the problematic name by other members in a Facebook plant group or forum, or you've seen the name 'wandering Jew' banned in the group rules.
Some groups and forums also extend that ban to include 'wandering dude' and 'wandering willie' (also considered problematic because they are callbacks to the original).
It's nothing to do with the more well-known problem with tradescantia when it gets outdoors, especially here in New Zealand. Tradescantia is rated a National Pest Plant here and an unwanted organism under the Biosecurity Act.
That's because tradescantia can form thick mats of vegetation that block other plants and is exceedingly difficult to get rid of once established, especially in the North Island. It can also a cause of allergic skin reactions for dogs and other animals that walk through it.
Is the name wandering Jew antisemitic?
Knowing it's invasive nature outdoors, you might think the name 'wandering Jew' relates to the way tradescantia spreads and grows, or assume the common name refers to the story of the Israelites, punished to wander through desert wilderness for 40 years before being able to enter the Promised Land.
Sadly the story behind the 'wandering Jew' is far darker, with ties to anti-Semitism dating back to at least the 13th century. The origin is thought to be from a medieval European Christian folklore story about a Jew who mocked Jesus and was forced to wander the earth until the apocalypse. Putting the blame for the diaspora on the Jewish people not accepting Jesus.
In 1602 a pamphlet called The Eternal Jew or The Eternal Wandering Jew (Der ewige Jude), was published in Germany. Transforming the folktale of an unknown outcast into antisemitic hate pamphlets. The pamphlet became the basis of the Nazi movie 'Der Ewige Jude' in 1940. Now considered one of the most violently antisemitic films ever made [1].
The movie was in the style of a documentary, the goal being to demonstrate the parasitic nature of the the Jewish people and their contribution to the decay of German society in order to help justify drastic measures against them. The film argues that Jews are criminals with no soul and that killing them is not a crime, any more than killing rats is a necessity to preserve health and cleanliness.
Will you keep using it?
The well-researched, very well-written article 'Let's Talk About the Wandering Elephant in the Room' on the same topic, written on Tradescantia.uk [2] by the International Cultivar Registration Authority for Tradescantia, sums it up very well (and is well worth a read, linked below):
"It's clear that the name 'wandering Jew' has antisemitic origins. We might never know exactly how or why the name came to be used for tradescantia plants, but we know for sure that the myth that the name comes from has a violently antisemitic history. And we know that many Jewish people (as well as many non-Jewish people), are uncomfortable with it."
If you're in a position of authority
"If you are perceived as any kind of authority – if you run an influential group or page, if you write and publish on the subject of plants, if you grow or sell them – I always recommend using precise scientific names for clarity.
But if you do want to use a common name (hopefully in addition to the scientific name!), I strongly recommend against “wandering Jew”. Variants like “wandering dude” receive mixed reception and generally seem like the worst of both worlds. It’s a less-familiar name that requires some explanation, but it’s also still a clear callback to the antisemitic name.
Instead, if you want to include a common name I recommend using “inchplant” for tropical houseplant types, and “spiderwort” for hardy garden types. Or my personal preference, simply treat “tradescantia” as a common name itself, and abbreviate it to “trad” if it’s clear from context.
If you feel the need to refer to the name “wandering Jew” to make sure that people know what you’re talking about, I’d suggest linking to a resource like this article to explain why you prefer not to use it."
Advice for individuals
"I’m not the language police. You can use whatever words you choose, for any reason. But I hope that reading this article has helped you understand how it might be interpreted if you do use the name “wandering Jew”.
If you’re Jewish and you want to reclaim the slur with other Jewish people, that’s absolutely your right, and no one else gets a say.
If you’re not Jewish, or you’re using the name among strangers, it’s likely to make a lot of people uncomfortable. Variants like “wandering dude” will also make some people uncomfortable in the same way.
If you want to use a different name and you find “tradescantia” difficult to spell or pronounce, I suggest trying “inchplant” for tropical houseplant types and “spiderwort” for hardy garden types. You can also use “trad” as a nickname in a context where it’ll be obvious what it’s short for."
You can read the full article here >
What I'm doing
As for me personally? I wouldn't call myself an authority, but knowing its violent antisemitic origins, that's a big NO from me. I will be using the correct scientific name Tradescantia on my website, in the articles I write for publications, and when I contribute to forums and Facebook groups. I hope after the publishing of this article, this will be the last time I ever have to write 'wandering Jew'.