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Ohio Spiderwort Wikimedia Commons
Commelinaceae

Ohio Spiderwort

Tradescantia ohiensis

Fleeting beauty cherished in the moment.

Family
Commelinaceae
Genus
Tradescantia
Native to
eastern and central North America
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
herbaceous perennial
Height
2-3 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
average, well-drained
Water
low to moderate
Hardiness
4-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Each flower lasts only a single day, opening in the morning and dissolving into a jelly-like mass by afternoon.
  • The stamen hairs change color from blue to pink when exposed to radiation or pollution, making it a biological indicator.
  • Named for John Tradescant the Elder, gardener to King Charles I of England, who collected American plants.
  • The plant produces a sticky, spider-web-like mucilage when stems are cut, which inspired the 'spiderwort' name.
  • It continuously produces new buds throughout the season, so the plant always appears to be in bloom.

Color meanings

0

momentary beauty

1

respect for nature

2

transience

Uses

  • native plant gardens
  • environmental monitoring
  • rain gardens
  • meadow plantings