Tradescantia ohiensis
Ohio Spiderwort
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.Ohio spiderwort has attractive foliage and showy blue flowers that attract native bees.
Description:
Ohio spiderwort is an attractive plant with erect stems and blue-green, grass-like leaves. Its showy clusters of blue, three-petaled flowers bloom from late spring to mid-summer. Individual flowers, which last for a day, tend to open in the morning sun and then close in the heat of the afternoon.
This adaptable species is easy to grow in a wide range of soils, and can self-seed. If desired, plants can be cut back to 6 inches high in late summer when the foliage starts to decline to minimize self-seeding, and mature clumps can be divided every few years. Ohio spiderwort pairs well with late blooming perennials, which fill in the gaps as the foliage declines.
Wildlife value: Ohio spiderwort is of special value to long-tongued native bees, especially bumblebees.
Plant Details:
Other Common Names: Bluejacket
Plant Type: Flower, Perennial
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Late Spring to Early Summer, Summer
Bloom Colors: Blue
Deer Resistance: None
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Bees and Other Pollinators, Butterflies
Salt Tolerance: Low to None
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: All Regions in NJ
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic, Neutral
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Full Sun
Light Range: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 2 - 3 ft
Spread: 1.5 - 2.5 ft
Growth Rate: Medium