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Tradescantia ohiensis is often confused with:
Tradescantia x andersoniana 'Purple Profusion' Tradescantia 'Purple Profusion'
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Trillium pusillum Close up of flower
Viola pedata Viola pedata
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Tradescantia ohiensis has some common insect problems:
Slugs & Snails on Ornamental Plants

Tradescantia ohiensis

Previously known as:

  • Tradescantia canaliculata
  • Tradescantia foliosa
  • Tradescantia incarnata
  • Tradescantia ohiensis var. foliosa
  • Tradescantia reflexa
Phonetic Spelling
trad-es-KAN-tee-uh oh-high-EN-sis
Description

Smooth spiderwort or Ohio spiderwort is a clump-forming perennial in the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae). It native from Ontario, Canada to the central and eastern United States. This native perennial grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet and a width of 2 feet and is best known for its purple to rose-blue, 3-petaled flowers. In the wild, it is found growing in meadows, along roads, and along woodland margins. The specific epithet, ohiensis, means "Ohio."

This plant prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained, acidic, sand, loam, gravel or clay soil. They are drought, dry soils, and shallow rocky soils tolerant. It can be grown in shade, however, the blooms will not be as profuse as when placed in full sun. To encourage new growth and possible blooming the fall, cut the plant back to 6 to 12 inches in the mid-summer. They may be propagated by division, stem cuttings, or seeds. Being a self-seeding perennial, with the right conditions, it can be somewhat weedy. It can also spread by offshoots.  

The roots are thick, fleshy, and fibrous. The stems are mostly erect, ascending, unbranched, round, smooth, and sometimes glaucous. The leaves are dark bluish-green with a grass-like appearance. The leaves are 8 to 15 inches long and less than 0.75 inches wide, and they fold lengthwise that makes a groove or channel. The flowers are blue to rose colored, 3-petaled, appear in clusters, and bloom atop the stems from late May to early July. Each flower blooms for a single day, typically opening in the morning, but in the heat of the day, the flowers will shrivel when touched. 

The smooth spiderwort is the most common and widespread of the species in the United States It may be used as a border plant, and in woodland gardens, wildflower gardens or meadows. It can be used as a groundcover and naturalizes easily.  It would be an excellent addition to your landscape because of its long blooming season, and in warmer climates it will bloom year-round.

Quick ID Hints:

  • stems are erect, ascending, round, smooth, sometimes glaucous
  • leaves grass-like, 8 to 15 inches long, less than 0.75 inches wide, bluish-green, folded lengthwise
  • flowers are blue to rose colored, 3-petaled, and appear atop the stem in a cluster of 20 blooms
  • fruit is tiny capsule

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious insects or disease issues. Snails sometimes damage the young shoots, and deer and rabbits occasionally eat the foliage. Clumps can become quite large; division may be necessary. By mid-summer, the foliage can become somewhat unattractive due to its tendency to sprawl.

This species is reportedly non-toxic to humans and pets. 

More information on Tradescantia.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#drought tolerant#native perennial#shade garden#NC native#herbaceous perennial#long bloom time#self-seeding#grass-like#cutting garden#pollinator plant#edible leaves#native wildflower#clumping#naturalized area#larval host plant#food source summer#border front#NC Native Pollinator Plant#edible stems#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#walkway planting#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#bee friendly#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#roadside#Audubon#shallow soil tolerant#heat intolerant#perennial#weed#patio#meadow#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#drought tolerant#native perennial#shade garden#NC native#herbaceous perennial#long bloom time#self-seeding#grass-like#cutting garden#pollinator plant#edible leaves#native wildflower#clumping#naturalized area#larval host plant#food source summer#border front#NC Native Pollinator Plant#edible stems#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#walkway planting#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#bee friendly#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#roadside#Audubon#shallow soil tolerant#heat intolerant#perennial#weed#patio#meadow#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Tradescantia
    Species:
    ohiensis
    Family:
    Commelinaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Ontario to Central and Eastern United States
    Distribution:
    Canada: Ontario; United States: AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV. Introduced: Korea
    Wildlife Value:
    Attractive to native bees and butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Edibility:
    The leaves and stems are edible, fresh or cooked.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Ascending
    Clumping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    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:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fruits are a light green capsule that displays from May to August. They are surrounded by 3 green bracts and will mature 2-3 weeks after flowering. The mature capsule splits into 3-valved sections. Each capsule is 4 to 6 mm in size and releases 3 to 6 brown seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Saucer
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are 3-petaled, and they have 6 bright yellow anthers and fine violet hairs near the base. They have 6 stamens that dark bluish-purple. The flowers are usually blue to purple, but they may also be pink or white. Each bloom measures 1-1.5 inches wide and appears in clusters or racemes of up to 20 flowers at the top of the stem. Only a few flowers will open at a time. They usually open in the morning hours and only last for 1 day; however, it has a long blooming season from late May to early July.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Waxy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The dark blue-green leaves are long, simple, strap-like, sessile, and have a grass-like appearance. They measure 8 to 15 inches long and less than 0.75 inches wide and have a smooth, waxy surface. They form a groove with their lengthwise fold. The base of the leaf wraps around the stem. The foliage can become less attractive later on in the summer.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The central stem is round, smooth, and may be glaucous. They are mostly unbranched, erect, ascending, arching, and hairless with a purple tinge.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Edible Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Problems:
    Weedy