Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis
Other Common Name(s):
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
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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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Ascending
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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