Ohio Spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis
Also listed as Tradescantia reflexa, Tradescantia canaliculata
Also known as Confederate Spiderwort, Reflexed Spiderwort, Smooth Spiderwort
Climate Match for your location
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Ohio spiderwort is a native wildflower with three-petaled blue or purple flowers that open in the morning and fade by afternoon. It forms clumps of narrow, grass-like foliage and blooms over several weeks in late spring and early summer.
Why grow it
Ohio spiderwort is a low-maintenance native perennial that requires minimal fertilizer or amendment once established, making it suitable for naturalized areas and rain gardens where nonnative ornamentals might demand more input. Compared to cultivated spiderworts, this species is adapted to the moisture and temperature patterns of eastern North America and typically flowers reliably without deadheading. Its ephemeral morning blooms and grass-like foliage provide texture and seasonal interest without the maintenance demands of many comparable spring bloomers.
Watch out for
Plants may spread beyond their intended area through self-seeding, especially in loose or disturbed soil, so monitor seedlings in adjacent plantings. Foliage can become somewhat ungainly or yellowed by midsummer in hot, dry conditions, though this does not affect the plant's survival or performance the following year.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Commelinaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Ohio spiderwort is a native wildflower with three-petaled blue or purple flowers that open in the morning and fade by afternoon. It forms clumps of narrow, grass-like foliage and blooms over several weeks in late spring and early summer.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Ohio Spiderwort grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Ohio spiderwort is a low-maintenance native perennial that requires minimal fertilizer or amendment once established, making it suitable for naturalized areas and rain gardens where nonnative ornamentals might demand more input. Compared to cultivated spiderworts, this species is adapted to the moisture and temperature patterns of eastern North America and typically flowers reliably without deadheading. Its ephemeral morning blooms and grass-like foliage provide texture and seasonal interest without the maintenance demands of many comparable spring bloomers.
Watch out for
Plants may spread beyond their intended area through self-seeding, especially in loose or disturbed soil, so monitor seedlings in adjacent plantings. Foliage can become somewhat ungainly or yellowed by midsummer in hot, dry conditions, though this does not affect the plant's survival or performance the following year.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Commelinaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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