Virginia Spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Virginia Spiderwort:
Previously known as:
- Ephemerum congestum
- Tradescantia brevicaulis
- Tradescantia speciosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- trad-es-KAN-tee-uh vir-jin-ee-AN-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Virginia Spiderwort is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial native of Ontario to the east-central and eastern United States. It is found in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. This plant spreads by underground rhizomes forming erect clumps and grows 1.5 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 1.5 feet wide. It can be found in moist prairies, fertile woodlands, open woods, meadows, hillsides, stony bluffs, stream banks, and roadsides. It is a member of the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae). The specific epithet, virginiana, means "of Virginia."
Virginia spiderwort prefers moist to wet fertile sites but adapts to average garden soils in sun to shade. Provide the plant with additional water during dry periods. Deadheading the faded flowers will encourage a second flowering in the late summer. The plant is winter hardy in zones 4 to 9. It can be propagated by division or seed.
The leaves are arching, long, narrow, up to 1 foot long, 1-inch wide, dark to olive green, and they fold lengthwise and form a groove. The flowers are blue-violet, 3-petaled, 1-2 inches in diameter, and have yellow stamens. In the spring, the flowers begin to bloom and will appear in the morning and last only for a day. New flowers are produced daily in terminal clusters. This plant only produces a few flowers at a time, and occasionally white flowers can occur. The flowers will continue to bloom from March to early July. Once they have finished blooming, it is best to 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. After flowering, a seed capsule appears and contains tiny brown seeds.
This native species has become threatened by the destruction of its native habitats as well as by collection of these plants in the wild. They are becoming less common in the Carolinas. Gardeners should not collect these plants in the wild. The plants purchased for your landscape should be nursery propagated.
This long-blooming plant would add interest to a native garden, woodland setting, or shade garden. It may be used in naturalized areas. along a stream or pond, in a rain garden or the border of a pollinator garden.
Quick ID Hints:
- the central stem is round, smooth, but it may have scattered long hairs where the leaf wraps around the stem
- linear, dark to olive green leaves, 12 inches long, 1-inch wide, entire margins
- two leaf-like bracts up to 6-inches long and 0.5 inches aide
- blue-violet, 3-petaled flower with 6 yellow stamens, spidery violet hairs
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The Virginia spiderwort does not have any serious insect or disease issues. Snails can sometimes damage the new growth. By summer, the foliage has a sprawling habit and is less attractive. This species can spread easily by seed and may need to be controlled.
The Virginia spiderwort is reportedly both edible and poisonous. Most species of Tradescantia are mildly toxic to humans and pets, if ingested. They also tend to cause skin irritation upon contact. Exercise caution before eating any part of a wild plant and wear protective glove when handling this plant.
- 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 for food and medical purposes.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Ontario to the East Central and the Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- Native: AL, CT, DE, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VT, VA, WV and WI; Cuba and Ontario. Introduced: CA, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Madeira, North Caucasus, and Transcaucasus.
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees, bumble bees, and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edibility:
- Leaves can be eaten raw mixed in salads. Teas can be made from the plant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Erect
- 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 pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- 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:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The seed capsules measure 4-7 mm long and split open into 3 parts. Each part releases 3 to 6 brown seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- 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:
- The flowers are blue violet, 3-petaled flower, and measure 1 inch in diameter. There are two-leaf-like bract, measuring 6 inches long and 0.5 inches wide. In the center of the bloom, there are 6 yellow stamens and spidery violet hairs. The flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon. Blooming occurs from March to early July.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are dark to olive green, up to 12 inches long, and 1 inch wide, and have smooth margins. The leaf shape is linear but has a wide base and pointed tip.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The central stem is round, glabrous, and may be either single or branched. Scattered long hairs may occur where the leaves wrap around the stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Dry Soil
- Heavy Shade
- Poor Soil
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Most species of Tradescantia tend to be mildly toxic to humans and pets, if ingested. They may cause mouth and stomach irritation. Handling the leaves or sap of this plant can cause skin irritation, redness, and itching to both humans and pets.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- unknown, possibly oxalate crystals
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice