Common Spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- trad-es-KAN-tee-uh vir-jin-ee-AN-uh
- Description
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Virginia Spiderwort is a herbaceous clump-forming perennial in the dayflower family that is native to the eastern and central USA and is found in the Piedmont of NC. The plants spread by underground stolons forming clumps and grow 2-3 feet tall by 1 foot wide. It can be found in moist prairies, fertile woodlands, open woods, meadows, hillsides, stony bluffs, stream banks, and along roadsides.
In spring the 3-petaled flowers appear and last for a day but new ones are produced daily in terminal clusters. Flower colors range from blue to purple to pink. Once they have finished blooming cut back the stems. The foliage may die back in the heat of the summer but returns in late summer to fall and often reblooms.
Virginia Spiderwort prefers moist to wet fertile sites but adapts to average garden soils in sun to shade. Provide additional water during dry periods. Use in a naturalized or woodland area, along a stream or pond, in a rain garden or the border of a native/pollinator garden.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Dry Stream Bed Garden in Cabarrus County Crevice Garden at the Guilford County Extension Center Shaded Slope Paths & Walkways Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Sweet Kate'
- 'Sweet Kate'
- 'Sweet Kate'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Sweet Kate'
- 'Sweet Kate'
- 'Sweet Kate'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tradescantia
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- commelinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used the plant medicinally.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central United States
- Distribution:
- AL , CA , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees.
- Edibility:
- Leaves can be eaten raw mixed in salads. Teas can be made from the plant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 5 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Spreading
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- 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:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The seed capsules split open into 3 parts, each releasing seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Description:
- 3-petaled flower with delicate spider web-like filaments surrounding the anthers in terminal clusters. Blooms in spring and again in fall.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Up to 12 inch long and 1 inch wide dark to olive-green leaves have parallel venation. They are linear with a wide base and pointed tip. Margins are smooth.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The rounded stalks are either single or branched at the base and glabrous, although scattered long hairs may occur where the leaves wrap around the stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
