Spiderwort

Spiderwort (*Tradescantia ohiensis* and related species) is a quietly enchanting native wildflower of eastern North America, producing clusters of vivid three-petaled flowers in shades of deep blue-violet, blue, and occasionally white from late spring through summer. Belonging to the Commelinaceae family, the genus *Tradescantia* contains approximately 75 species native to the Americas, with Ohio Spiderwort (*T. ohiensis*) being one of the most widespread and garden-worthy in the eastern US, thriving from New England to Florida and throughout the Midwest.

Each individual Spiderwort flower is relatively small (about an inch wide) but perfectly formed — three round, open petals surrounding a boss of six golden-yellow stamens, each bearing vivid yellow pollen and tipped with distinctive hairy filaments. The hairy yellow stamens are one of the most recognizable characteristics of the plant and earned it a place in scientific history: because the individual hairs are made of a single chain of cells, they were used by early botanists and scientists, including the Danish physicist Niels Bohr, for cellular observation studies. The flowers open each morning and close by afternoon — a behavior called 'morning flower' that concentrates pollinator visits in the coolest, most productive hours.

The name 'Spiderwort' has several possible origins — one theory is that the plant was historically used to treat spider bites; another is that the sap, when the stem is broken, forms long, glistening threads that look like spider silk. The genus name *Tradescantia* honors John Tradescant the Elder, a 17th-century English naturalist and gardener who collected American plants for King Charles I of England. Spiderwort was among the first North American wildflowers to reach European gardens, arriving in England in the 1620s.

In the garden, Spiderwort is a cheerful and reliable perennial that blooms over a very long season (often from May through frost with proper deadheading or cutting back). It thrives in a wide range of conditions — from moist, woodland-edge soils to average garden beds — making it one of the most adaptable of all native wildflowers. After blooming, it can be cut back to 6 inches to encourage a second flush of growth and flowers. It is completely non-toxic to pets and children. For more three-petaled wildflowers, explore our Flower Identifier.