Smooth Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis

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.