Toxic Plant Known to be toxic - The sap can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Wear gloves when handling the plant if you have sensitive skin. Ingestion may also cause stomach upset.
Image of Tradescantia ohiensis
Source: Donna Bos

Plant Names

image of Flowering plant
Tradescantia ohiensis
Ohio Spiderwort
Tradescantie d'Ohio

Synonyms

smooth spiderwort
éphémère d'Ohio

Plant Characteristics

Bloom Colour: Blue Bloom Period: May - Jul
Max Height: 3.0 feet
Max Width: 1.5 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture dry Tolerates dry soil condition
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
beginner friendly Suitable for beginner gardeners
does not spread Does not spread uncontrollably
plant spread by rhizome Spreads by rhizome
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
rock garden Suitable for rock gardens
rain garden Suitable for rain gardens
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
Ecological Benefits: No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Acidic Soil Tolerant Tolerates acidic soil conditions
Juglone Tolerant Tolerates juglone conditions
Transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
plant endangered This plant is endangered
septic tank safe This plant is septic tank safe
causes skin rashes This plant causes skin rashes

Seed and plant distribution status

No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant

Fun Facts

Ohio Spiderwort is a hardy native perennial that forms upright clumps of long, narrow, blue-green leaves. Clusters of three-petalled blue to violet flowers appear from late spring through summer. Individual flowers often open in the morning and close by afternoon, with new flowers continuing to appear over an extended period. It is an excellent choice for prairie gardens, sunny borders, meadows, and naturalized plantings.

Ohio Spiderwort forms clumps and can spread gradually by short rhizomes and self-seeding. It is generally well behaved, although it can become fairly vigorous in rich, moist soil. It is very tolerant of drought once established. It can be divided in spring or fall if the clump becomes too large. The foliage can become somewhat floppy or untidy later in summer; cutting it back is an easy way to refresh the plant. Although each flower lasts only a short time, the plant produces new flowers repeatedly, giving it a surprisingly long flowering season.

Plant Location

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Tradescantia ohiensis
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Tradescantia ohiensis

No butterfly data available for this plant.

Specialized Bees Supported by Tradescantia ohiensis

No bee data available for this plant.

Complementary Plants

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Pennisetum setaceum (Fountain Grass)
  • Hemerocallis (Daylily)
  • Baptisia (False Indigo)

Sowing Information

Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
  • Sow by December
  • Stratification duration: 120 days
  • Self-seeding
  • Notes: Best planted outdoors in fall in cool soil.

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: July
  • Harvesting indicator:
    • Pods are slightly open and seeds inside are dark
  • Harvesting:
    • Cut stem (including pods), let air dry in paper bag, then shake seeds off after a few days
  • Seed viability test:
    • No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
  • Seed storage:
    • Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
    • Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
  • Remove non-seed material
  • No harvesting video available at this time.

Toxicity Notes

The sap can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Wear gloves when handling the plant if you have sensitive skin. Ingestion may also cause stomach upset.