Tinantia pringlei
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Tradescantia pringlei
- Description
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Spotted widow's tears is a mound-forming perennial native to Mexico in the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae). The species epithet honors Cyrus Pringle (1838–1911), Quaker pacifist and prodigious collector of botanical specimens for the Gray Herbarium at Harvard University.
Spotted widow's tears does best in part shade to part sun but tolerates full sun to full shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil. It tolerates coastal conditions, various soil and pH types and deer generally will leave it alone.
The attractive gray-green leaves are broadly lance-shaped and purple-spotted with wiry, purple stems bearing mauve to lavender, three-petaled flowers from summer into autumn. The flowers are self-fertile, and they will self-seed in the garden. Propagation can also be done by stem cuttings and division. In warm-winter areas, it may be semi-evergreen to evergreen.
Use this plant as a border, as edging for woodland areas and naturalized areas, or in mass planting.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Few problems are reported.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Panther"
- 'Panther"
- 'Panther"
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Panther"
- 'Panther"
- 'Panther"
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tinantia
- Species:
- pringlei
- Family:
- Commelinaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- NE. Mexico
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 2 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Three petalled lavender-purple flowers at the end of branches
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Broadly lance-shaped leaves are gray-green with irregular purple splotches.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Wiry purple stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
