Virginia spiderwort

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot climates.

Water

Moderate; prefers evenly moist soil but tolerates short dry spells once established.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter; tolerates clay and a broad range of soil pH.

Height

1.5-3 ft (0.45-0.9 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late spring to midsummer; usually violet-blue, occasionally pink or white, with contrasting yellow anthers.

Foliage

Long, narrow, arching green leaves clasp upright, jointed stems; foliage may yellow or die back during hot, dry weather.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Water during the first growing season and during prolonged dry spells, especially in full sun.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; rich soil rarely needs additional fertiliser.
• Mulch around the clump to conserve moisture, keeping mulch away from the crown.
• Divide crowded clumps every three to four years in spring.
• Remove unwanted seedlings while small and cut off seed heads if you want to limit spread.

Pruning. After the main flowering flush, cut tired stems and foliage back to about 3-6 in (8-15 cm), then water if the soil is dry to encourage fresh growth and sometimes more flowers. Remove remaining dead growth in late winter or early spring.

Early spring

Remove dead stems before new shoots lengthen.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps, water well and apply compost and mulch.

Late spring

Check soil moisture as flowering begins, particularly in sunny positions.

Summer

Cut back untidy growth after the main flowering flush and water to encourage fresh leaves.

Late summer

Remove seed heads and unwanted seedlings where spreading is a concern.

Autumn

Allow healthy foliage to die back naturally; remove diseased material.

• Plant in loose groups near the front or middle of an informal border for early-season blue flowers.
• Use along a woodland edge with ferns and wild geraniums, where the soil stays moist but drains freely.
• Combine with later-growing perennials that conceal tired foliage after flowering.
• Include in eastern North American native plantings to provide pollen for bees.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Woodland, Wildflower, Pollinator garden, Native meadow and New perennial (prairie).

Plant it with: Wild geranium, Lady fern, Solomon's seal, Siberian iris, Black-eyed Susan and Purple coneflower.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen, rather than nectar, for bees, including bumblebees that can release pollen by vibration. Deer and rabbits may browse the foliage.

• Yellowing or collapsing foliage in summer: often a response to heat or drought rather than disease; cut back tired growth and water deeply.
• Slugs and snails on young shoots: inspect during damp evenings, remove by hand and use wildlife-conscious barriers or controls.
• Leaf spot or rust: remove affected leaves, avoid wetting foliage when watering and improve spacing for airflow.
• Unwanted seedlings: remove flower stems before seed ripens and pull seedlings while their roots are small.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs or horses, and serious poisoning in people is not expected. Sap from broken leaves and stems can irritate sensitive skin; wear gloves if you react to it and discourage pets from chewing the plant.

• Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)

  Usually has narrower, blue-green, waxy-looking leaves and mostly hairless sepals; Virginia spiderwort is generally greener and has conspicuously hairy sepals.

• Garden spiderwort (Tradescantia × andersoniana)

  These garden hybrids occur in a wider range of flower colours and often have larger flowers. They overlap closely with Virginia spiderwort, so appearance alone may not establish identity;

Tradescantia honours the Tradescants, English gardeners and plant collectors, while virginiana means 'of Virginia'.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring. Seed can be sown outdoors in autumn for natural winter chilling, but seedlings may vary and can hybridise with other garden spiderworts.

Accepted botanical name

Tradescantia virginiana

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states. Introduced in Canada.

Native range

Alabama, Connecticut, Cuba, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine and Maryland.

Measured

Soil pH 4 to 8. Average height 37 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.