Tradescantia occidentalis
western spiderwort
Overview
Tradescantia occidentalis is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial growing 8-24 inches (20-60 cm) tall from fibrous roots, with erect to arching stems. The linear, grass-like leaves reach 4-16 inches (10-40 cm) long and 0.2-0.5 inch (5-12 mm) wide, folded lengthwise and sheathing the stem at the base. Flowers are 0.8-1.2 inch (2-3 cm) across with three rounded petals in blue to violet, occasionally rose-pink, centered by six stamens carrying blue filament hairs. Each bloom opens in the morning and closes by midday, dissolving into a fluid drop, while new buds in the terminal cluster open over several weeks. The fruit is a small three-chambered capsule. The plant grows in sandy prairies, dunes, and open roadsides and tolerates drought once established, though stems flop in rich soil or shade. Foliage dies back to the ground after frost and resprouts in spring. Self-sown seedlings appear readily near established clumps and can spread into nearby beds.
Native Range
Tradescantia occidentalis is native to central and western North America, from the prairie provinces of Canada south through the Great Plains to Texas, Arizona, and northern Mexico. It grows in sandy and rocky soils of prairies, dunes, and open woodland edges.Suggested Uses
Planted in prairie and meadow gardens, naturalized plantings, and sunny borders with lean soil. It combines with ornamental grasses and other drought-tolerant prairie perennials. Also grown to support early-season native bees.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Bloom begins in late spring and continues through midsummer, roughly May to July across most of the range. Individual flowers last a single morning, but the branched terminal clusters open in succession for six to eight weeks. Flowering tapers in the heat of late summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
blue to violet, occasionally rose-pinkFoliage Description
blue-green to greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Tradescantia occidentalis in full sun to part shade in sandy, well-drained soil. It tolerates poor, dry ground and drought once established, while rich or moist soil produces tall, floppy stems. A pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 suits it. Plants spread slowly by short rhizomes and self-seed where the ground is open. Cutting stems back after the first flush of bloom can prompt a second, lighter round of flowers. Division every three to four years maintains density in clumps that thin at the center.Pruning
Stems can be sheared to the ground after flowering to remove tired foliage and limit self-seeding, and fresh basal growth follows within a few weeks. Removing spent flower stalks reduces volunteer seedlings. No other pruning is needed.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons