Spiderwort: A Pretty Plant with a Scary Name

Lynda Ellis, Anoka County Extension Master Gardener

Spiderwort sounds like something from a horror movie, but this plant is more attractive and fun than its name implies. The origin of its odd name is lost in time; some say it is because the three-petaled bloom looks like a spider, but I don’t see this resemblance myself. Others say the name stuck because part of the plant was once used to treat spider bites by indigenous peoples (do not try this on your own). Another theory is that the viscous fluid resembles a spider’s thread-like web upon hardening. Whatever the reason for its name, spiderwort is a pretty plant that offers a multitude of benefits, both for garden beauty and wildlife.

Spiderwort (Tradescantia) is native to North and South America and has approximately 85 individual species. In Minnesota, there are three common varieties: prairie spiderwort, western spiderwort, and Ohio spiderwort. In addition, Virginia spiderwort can also be found in Minnesota; it is a common variety grown in gardens across the eastern United States.

Spiderwort is an herbaceous perennial that is relatively easy to grow and maintain. As a native plant, it is generally pest and disease-free if it lives in moist, well-drained soil and gets full sun to part shade. The best time to propagate spiderwort is in the spring, and you should allow for 10 inches of space between the plants. Spiderwort is self-seeding and will do so with abandon if it likes where it is planted! To reduce self-seeding, spiderwort can be sheared mid-season.

While individual flowers of the spiderwort plant will only last for a day, this workhorse of the garden will produce blooms from spring all the way through most of the summer. The blooms come in shades of purple, blue, red or white. I noticed that after a few years in close proximity, my neighboring blue and white spiderwort plants gradually became mostly blue, so you may want to consider planting different colors in separate areas of the garden.

There are many wonderful companion plants to choose from, and they will enhance your spiderwort’s impact. If you are considering a naturalistic Minnesota prairie landscape or a pollinator oasis, some great options include little bluestem, butterfly weed, whorled milkweed, sky blue aster, coreopsis, round-headed bush clover, rough blazing star, prickly pear cactus, black oak, wild bergamot and prairie phlox. Having a variety of companion plants is a good design strategy with spiderwort since it often flops over after blooming and can then look unattractive. When this happens, I clip it back and let the other plants shine.

Spiderwort can be used in a variety of settings. In my yard, spiderwort lives in the rain garden and does well. Whenever I see it, I smile. If you are looking for a versatile and low-maintenance plant that can be center stage or a supporting player, you should give spiderwort a try! For more information, check out this article by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources:  https://bwsr.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2019-06/Plant_O_Month_July_2019_Prairie_Spiderwort.pdf