Tradescantia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- trad-es-KAN-tee-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Spiderwort genus is a native herbaceous perennial of 75 species of wildflowers in the Commelinaceae (dayflower) family. It is native from southern Canada to South America. They have become naturalized throughout the world. Generally, they are weakly upright plants that grow in clumps in woodland areas and open fields. Spiderwort gets its name from the thick, sticky secretion that is present when a stem is cut. This substance becomes thread-like and silky when it hardens, appearing similar to a spider web.
Provide perennial plants with protection from the afternoon sun in NC.
This plant also works well mass planted along a slope, walkway or patio garden. Its attractive foliage makes it a striking accent plant or a feature in a native or cottage garden. Use in perennial beds of native and pollinator gardens. Tropical forms can be used as houseplants and in hanging containers but should be avoided in the landscape as they can become quite weedy.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Snails and caterpillars can damage young shoots.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Container Garden with Epiphytes Sun and Shade Demo Garden, Buncombe County Pollinator Garden- Partial Shade Container Garden with Epiphytes Flower Bonanza Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Purple Profusion', 'Sweet Kate'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Purple Profusion', 'Sweet Kate'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tradescantia
- Family:
- Commelinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native American tribes used Virginia spiderwort for various food and medicinal purposes.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada, U.S.A., South America
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Horizontal
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12b, 12a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are often 3 petaled in white, blue, purple and pink
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Variegated
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves can be from green narrow and grass-like to purple and variegated oval leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Lawn
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
