Spiderwort

Tradescantia ohiensis is a native herbaceous perennial found across eastern and central North America, from Maine to Minnesota and south to Texas and Florida. It produces clusters of three-petaled flowers in shades of blue and violet that open in the morning and close by midday. As the most widespread Tradescantia species in the US, it suits naturalistic plantings, pollinator gardens, and native borders, attracting bumblebees and sweat bees.

Plants form arching, strap-leaved clumps that spread readily by self-seeding and can become aggressive in rich, moist soils. Cutting stems back by half after the main bloom period typically triggers a second flush of growth and a second round of flowering in late summer. Established clumps benefit from division every two to three years to prevent crowding. The plant tolerates part shade, summer drought once established, and clay soils.

Native American groups used the roots as a laxative and for digestive complaints and applied crushed leaves topically to skin irritations. Young shoots and flowers are edible raw. The stamen hairs of Tradescantia species are unusually sensitive to ionizing radiation and mutagens, making them a subject of ongoing biological monitoring research.