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Virginia Spiderwort

Tradescantia virginiana

Clumping spiderwort with three-petaled violet-blue flowers that open fresh each morning and fade by afternoon. Adaptable in sun or shade. Young shoots and leaves are edible raw or cooked as a potherb, and the flowers make an attractive edible garnish.

Family

Commelinaceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

1.5–3 ft

Spacing

1–1.5 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade, shade

Soil moisture

dry, moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral, alkaline

Bloom

March, April, May, June, July, August

Bloom colors

white, blue, purple

Wildlife value

butterflies, pollinators

Landscape uses

border, naturalizing, rain garden

Native states

AL, AR, CA, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WI, WV