Spiderwort
Tradescantia virginiana
Spiderwort is a clumping native perennial with grassy arching foliage and three-petaled blue, purple, or pink flowers that each last a single day. It blooms reliably from late spring through summer.
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate; evenly moist
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) is an easygoing North American perennial grown for its clusters of three-petaled flowers in blue, violet, magenta, or white. Each bloom opens in the morning and fades by afternoon, but new buds open daily over many weeks.
Its grassy, arching foliage forms loose mounds, giving it a relaxed look well suited to cottage and woodland-edge gardens. It is tough, adaptable, and quick to establish.
Garden spiderworts are often hybrids (Tradescantia x andersoniana) bred for a wider color range and sturdier habit.
How to identify it
- Flowers: Three rounded petals in blue, purple, rose, or white, with showy yellow stamens; each lasts one day in clusters at the stem tips
- Foliage: Long, narrow, grass-like, arching leaves that fold along the midrib
- Stems: Somewhat fleshy and jointed; exude a mucilaginous sap when cut
- Height: Clumps 1-2 ft tall
- Bloom time: Late spring through summer
Care & growing
- Light: Full sun to part shade; part shade prolongs each day's bloom in hot climates
- Water: Keep evenly moist for best flowering; tolerates a range but flops or browns if too dry
- Soil: Adaptable; thrives in average to moist, fertile soil
- Temperature: Hardy roughly USDA zones 4-9
- Feeding: Light; overly rich soil promotes floppy growth
- Propagation: Very easy by division; cutting foliage back hard after the first flush of bloom encourages fresh leaves and rebloom
Habitat & origin
Spiderwort is native to eastern North America, growing in woodland edges, meadows, prairies, and along roadsides and streambanks.
It is widely grown in temperate gardens for borders, woodland gardens, and naturalized plantings, and tolerates a broad range of conditions including some clay and moisture.
Uses & benefits
Ornamental: Cheerful, long-blooming color for cottage gardens, woodland edges, and informal borders.
Ecological: The flowers provide pollen for bees, including bumblebees, and the plant supports native pollinators.
Scientific: Spiderwort stamen hairs are a classic subject in biology classes and have been used as a bioindicator of radiation and pollution.
Frequently asked questions
Why do spiderwort flowers only last a day?
Each individual bloom opens and wilts within a single day, often by afternoon, but the plant produces a steady succession of new buds so the clump keeps flowering for weeks.
My spiderwort looks tired and floppy by midsummer. What should I do?
Cut the whole clump back by half to two-thirds after the first bloom flush. It will regrow fresh foliage and often rebloom.
Is spiderwort invasive?
Native spiderwort can self-seed and spread but is generally manageable. Note that some tropical Tradescantia relatives are aggressive groundcovers in warm climates.
Does spiderwort cause skin irritation?
The sap can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive people, so wear gloves if you handle a lot of it.
Spiderwort guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Spiderwort.
