WashingtonGardener: Spiderwort Plant Profile

Wednesday, March 04, 2026

Spiderwort Plant Profile

Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginia) is a perennial plant with blue-purple flowers on grass-like stalks. It is native to the Eastern United States into Canada. Some rare varieties bloom with pink, white, or red flowers.

The flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon or evening. The bloom period is from spring to early summer. You can cut back the plant after the first flush of flowers are done to get it to rebloom in late summer and early fall.

It does well in full sun to part shade in moist but well-draining soils. It is hardy to USDA zones 4 to 9.

Spiderwort grows to about 18 inches tall.

Spiderwort attracts pollinators such as long-tongue bees.

The plant is said to edible but can cause allergic reactions in pets and humans. It was used in indigenous medicine for insect bites – which is where its common name stems from.

Another common name is Inkweed due to the Spiderwort flowers containing a strong pigment that can be used as a dye. They can also stain your skin and clothing.

It reseeds around a bit and can be dug and moved to a better location, if desired.

Spiderwort: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Videos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Aicha Bangoura

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