Tradescantia virginiana

Virginia Spiderwort

A scrambling, herbaceous perennial with very attractive, long, narrow, slightly fleshy leaves and twinned, coiled flower heads which unfurl as the flowers open, rather in the manner of an uncoiling fern frond. The many flowers are deep violet, and the flower buds are veined and tinged purple. Red, blue, pink and white flowers occasionally are seen as are double-flowered ones.

Additional Information:
The name Tradescantia commemorates one of the most famous father and son teams in botany  John Tradescant, Sr. (died 1638), who travelled to north Russia in 1618 and Algiers in 1620, and John Tradescant, Jr. (1608-1662), who travelled in Virginia in 1654. John Jr. succeeded his father as gardener to Charles I.

Height 18-30 Inches

Spread 12-18 Inches

Bloom/Seasonal Color Blue Violet

USDA Hardiness Zone 4-9

Home Owner Growing and Maintenance Tips:
Grow in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, acidic soils. Tolerant of poor soils. Divide clumps when they become overcrowded. Foliage declines after flowering and should then be cut back almost to the ground to encourage new growth and a possible fall bloom. Can self-seed and become somewhat invasive in ideal growing conditions. Grow in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, acidic soils. Tolerant of poor soils. Divide clumps when they become overcrowded. Foliage declines after flowering and should then be cut back almost to the ground to encourage new growth and a possible fall bloom. Can self-seed and become somewhat invasive in ideal growing conditions. Grow in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, acidic soils. Tolerant of poor soils. Divide clumps when they become overcrowded. Foliage declines after flowering and should then be cut back almost to the ground to encourage new growth and a possible fall bloom. Can self-seed and become somewhat invasive in ideal growing conditions. Grow in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, acidic soils. Tolerant of poor soils. Divide clumps when they become overcrowded. Foliage declines after flowering and should then be cut back almost to the ground to encourage new growth and a possible fall bloom. Can self-seed and become somewhat invasive in ideal growing conditions. When the stems of spiderworts are cut, a viscous stem secretion is released which becomes threadlike and silky upon hardening (like a spider's web), hence the common name.

Characteristics & Attributes