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Tradescantia, Genus, ohiensis, Species,

Genus & species

Ohio spiderwort

Commelinaceae Central and eastern North America

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–9

Overview

Tradescantia ohiensis is an upright, clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the spiderwort family, growing 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) tall and 1-1.5 feet (30-45 cm) wide on smooth, waxy, blue-green stems. The narrow, arching, grass-like leaves are 6-15 inches (15-38 cm) long and fold lengthwise along a central crease, clasping the stem at the base. From late spring into summer the stems carry terminal clusters of three-petaled flowers 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across in blue to violet, with yellow anthers on hairy filaments. Each flower lasts a single morning and closes by afternoon, but the cluster opens a few new flowers daily over several weeks. Pink and white forms occur. The plant grows in prairies, open woods, meadows, and along railroads and roadsides across its range, in full sun to light shade. After the main bloom the foliage often flops and browns, and shearing the clump renews it. It spreads by seed and slowly expanding clumps.

Native Range

Tradescantia ohiensis is native to central and eastern North America, from Ontario and the eastern United States west to the Great Plains and south to Texas and Florida, growing in prairies, open woods, meadows, and disturbed ground.

Suggested Uses

Grown in prairie and meadow plantings, native and pollinator gardens, rain gardens, and mixed borders, spaced 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart. It tolerates damp ground and combines with grasses and other prairie perennials. The flowers draw bumblebees and other native bees.

How to Identify

Identify Ohio spiderwort by its smooth, waxy, blue-green stems and narrow arching grass-like leaves that fold along a central crease. The three-petaled flowers 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across are blue to violet with yellow anthers on hairy filaments, held in terminal clusters above leaf-like bracts. Each bloom opens in the morning and wilts to a jelly-like drop by afternoon, replaced by another the next day.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Flowers: May–July

Spring Summer

Flowering runs from late spring into mid summer, generally May to July, with each flower lasting only a single morning. The cluster opens a few new flowers each day, so a clump blooms over four to six weeks. Bees, especially bumblebees, gather pollen from the flowers, which produce no nectar.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

blue to violet

Foliage Description

blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5 (Acidic to alkaline)

3579

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Tradescantia ohiensis grows in full sun to light shade on a wide range of soils, from sand to clay, and tolerates a pH of about 5.5-7.5. It withstands heat, humidity, drought, and poor soil once established and needs little care. Even moisture produces lusher growth, while dry spells can cause the foliage to brown. After the main bloom, cutting the clump back by half removes tired, flopping stems and can bring a flush of fresh leaves and a few late flowers. It self-seeds where seed heads are left and forms slowly enlarging clumps. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9.

Pruning

Cutting the clump back to a few inches after the main flush of bloom removes the spent, flopping stems and renews the foliage. The trimmed plant often regrows a tidy mound and may rebloom lightly. Old foliage is cleared in late fall or early spring.