spiderwort

Tradescantia Ruppius ex L.

A genus overview; characteristics vary between its species.

Spiderworts range from upright, clump-forming garden perennials to sprawling tropical plants with fleshy stems. Some shoots root where their nodes touch the ground. Leaves may be narrow or broad, green or purple, and cultivated forms can be striped. This variety explains why a hardy border spiderwort and a trailing houseplant can belong to the same genus. NC State Extension: Tradescantia

Wear spiderwort: explore the botanical t-shirt

Botanical name

Tradescantia Ruppius ex L. is an accepted genus in Commelinaceae; the database’s abbreviated author citation refers to the same genus. Kew Plants of the World Online: Tradescantia

Recognizing the plant

The floral plan is more consistent than the foliage: three sepals surround three petals, with six fertile stamens in the center. Filaments can be smooth or conspicuously bearded. Flowers gather in compact, often paired clusters supported by leaflike bracts. After flowering, the three-chambered capsule opens into three valves. Roots vary from slender to thickened and tuberous. Flora of North America: Tradescantia

Seasonality across the genus

Chicago, Illinois; hardy garden taxa

In Chicago trials, hardy garden spiderworts flowered mainly in late spring and early summer, sometimes resuming later. Individual flowers usually lasted one day, closing sooner in hot afternoon conditions. Chicago Botanic Garden, Plant Evaluation Notes 34: Tradescantia

Native range

The genus is native to the Americas, extending from Canada through the Caribbean and Central America to Argentina. Kew Plants of the World Online: Tradescantia