812-217-7207
reseednursery@gmail.comPerennial • $6, 4-inch pot
| Height | 3 ft |
| Spacing | 1 to 2 ft |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Soil Moisture | Medium to Dry |
| Bloom Color | Purple |
| Bloom Time | May, June, July |
| Companion Plantings | Foxglove Penstemon, False Sunflower, Black Eyed Susan, Smooth Hydrangea |
| Special Attributes |  |
Tradescantia ohiensis
Very pretty deep purple flowers that last less than a day begin appearing in May and continue for an impressive 6 weeks or so into summer. The 12″ or longer blue-green leaves wrap around the stem of this plant in sheaths similar to grasses, a characteristic common to all plants in the Dayflower family (Commelinaceae). The common name “Spiderwort” refers to a silky secretion emitted from the stem when it is broken, which resembles a spiderweb. Plants may decline in harsh conditions or in excessive heat following the flowering period.
Mainly bumblebees visit this nectarless plant for pollen, although other long-tongued bees will also visit. This tough plant is highly adaptable and will grow in nearly any condition, including rough urban sites, road sides, clay, or sand; plants can also tolerate a decent amount of shade, although flowering may be less profuse. Ohio Spiderwort spreads by thick, stubby rhizomes, which can be divided in the spring or fall. This is very easy to grow from seed despite the long cold stratification period (4 months) required for successful germination.
All above-ground portions of this plant are edible to humans and other mammalian herbivores alike, so protection may be needed from rabbits or deer. Fascinatingly, the hairs on the stamens turn from purple to pink in the presence of radiation, and for that reason Ohio Spiderwort is sometimes planted around nuclear power plants as a reliable indicator for nuclear radiation.
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