Tradescantia virginiana
An eastern North American clump-forming perennial with slender, grasslike leaves and violet-blue, three-petaled flowers that bloom in spring to summer in moist, well-drained soil from full sun to partial shade.
Common Names
Virginia Spiderwort, Spider Lily, Spiderwort, Common Spiderwort, Spiderworts
Summary
Virginia Spiderwort is a perennial native to the eastern United States in the spiderwort family. It forms clumps of slender, grasslike leaves and grows to about 18–30 inches tall, with terminal clusters of three-petaled blue to purple flowers that open in the morning and last a day. Blooms occur in spring to early summer and attract bees and other pollinators. The plant inhabits woods, meadows, stream banks, and disturbed sites such as roadsides, tolerating sun to partial shade and a range of moist to well-drained soils. It can self-seed and form colonies over time.
It tolerates sun to part shade and is hardy in USDA zones 4–9. It propagates easily by division in spring or autumn and may self-seed in ideal conditions; provide regular moisture for best bloom. It is well suited for borders, woodland or native plant gardens, and naturalized areas, providing extended color in spring and early summer while supporting pollinators.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
1.5-2.5 feet
Spread
12-18 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4-9
Sunlight Requirements
Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Moist, well-drained loamy soil
Soil Drainage
Moist but well-drained soil.
Soil pH
4.0-8.0, tolerates all soil pH levels.
Bloom Color
Blue to purple
Bloom Time
Spring and Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Rapid
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 288 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Commelinales
- Suborder
- Commelinineae
- Family
- Commelinaceae
- Subfamily
- Commelinoideae
- Tribe
- Tradescantieae
- Subtribe
- Tradescantiinae
- Genus
- Tradescantia
- Subgenus
- Tradescantia subgen. Tradescantia
Synonyms
Ephemerum congestum Knowlesia spicata Leiandra divaricata Tradescantia albida Tradescantia axillaris Tradescantia barbata Tradescantia brevicaulis Tradescantia ciliata Tradescantia crinigera Tradescantia cristata Tradescantia divaricata Tradescantia elata Tradescantia flexuosa Tradescantia glabra Tradescantia levigata Tradescantia pilosissima Tradescantia pumila Tradescantia rupestris Tradescantia speciosa Tradescantia spicata Tradescantia splendens Tradescantia villosissima Tradescantia virginica Tradescantia axillaris var. flexuosa Tradescantia virginica f. albiflora Tradescantia virginica var. drummondii Tradescantia virginica var. flexuosa Tradescantia virginica var. villosa Tradescantia virginiana f. albiflora Tradescantia virginiana var. flexuosa Tradescantia caricifolia Tradescantia congesta Tradescantia lyonii Tradescantia trachyloma Tradescantia virginica var. glabra Tradescantia virginiana f. virginiana