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Key characteristics

Family: Commelinaceae
Height: 18 to 36 inches
Width: 12 to 18 inches
Flower color: Blue to violet purple with yellow stamens
Foliage color: Medium green to blue green narrow arching leaves up to 12 inches long
Bloom time: Late spring to midsummer
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Average to moist
Maintenance: Low; cut back stems after flowering to encourage more blooms divide clumps every 2 to 4 years
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 9
Wildlife: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators

Perennials

Tradescantia virginiana

Virginia Spiderwort

Tradescantia virginiana forms arching clumps of narrow, blade-like green leaves that create a relaxed fountain of foliage. From late spring into early summer, clusters of three-petaled flowers open in shades of blue to violet purple with bright yellow stamens at the center. Each bloom lasts only a day, yet new buds continue to appear along upright stems, keeping the plant in steady color for weeks.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Average to moist

Bloom time

Late spring to midsummer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Hummingbird Gardens
Rain Gardens

Companion plants

Lady's mantle · Hellebores · Hardy geraniums · Hostas · Ferns · Astilbes

Design tip

Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)