Spiderwort (Tradescantia 'Hawaiian Punch')

Overview

Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ is a highly desirable variety within the common Spiderwort group, prized for its vibrant, cerise red floral display that lasts throughout the summer months. This clump-forming perennial brings reliable color to garden settings where moisture levels remain consistent. Its structure features stiff stems topped with attractive, arching, dark green foliage.

As a member of the Andersoniana Group hybrids, this Spiderwort is celebrated for its resilience and ease of care in the right conditions. Gardeners value Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ for injecting a tropical feel with its intense bloom color, contrasting beautifully with its deep green leaves. It is a robust choice for areas needing reliable, medium-height texture from late spring into summer.

This cultivar typically reaches 12 to 18 inches high, making it an excellent mid-border plant or effective mass planting in naturalized areas. Provided with adequate moisture, Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ performs admirably, requiring only moderate attention throughout the season to maintain its best habit and bloom performance.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Commelinaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1-1.5 ft
  • Spread: 1-1.5 ft
• Bloom Time: May to August
• Bloom Description: Cerise red
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Medium to wet
• Maintenance Level: Medium

How to Grow

Plant Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ ideally in the spring or fall in average, well-drained soil that receives full sun to partial shade. While adaptable, this Spiderwort performs best when situated in moist, acidic, humusy soils; it shows remarkable tolerance for wet or even boggy conditions, making it perfect for rain gardens. Good drainage is still essential, even when moist conditions are maintained.

Watering requirements are medium to wet; aim to keep the soil consistently moist, especially during hot, dry spells. Fertilizing is rarely necessary if the soil is rich in organic matter, as this genus prefers less interference. Deadhead spent flower clusters frequently; removing older blooms encourages the plant to produce successive buds, thereby extending the beautiful cerise red display well into August.

As the peak heat of summer arrives, the foliage of the Spiderwort can sometimes decline or sprawl unattractively, and blooming will slow. When this occurs, perform a hard cutback, trimming the stems almost to the ground. This drastic pruning rejuvenates the plant, prompting fresh, attractive new foliage and often stimulating a welcome flush of late summer or fall flowers. Periodically divide overgrown clumps to maintain vigor.

Landscape Uses

Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ excels where consistent moisture is naturally present or desired, fitting seamlessly into rain gardens designed to manage runoff. Its reliable stature and striking bloom color make it an excellent choice for the middle of perennial borders, providing seasonal structure that leads the eye toward taller background plantings.

Look to naturalized settings, open woodland edges, or the moist margins near streams and ponds for ideal placements. This Spiderwort blends well with moisture-loving companions such as Astilbe, Iris species, or various ferns, creating rich, layered textures. Use masses of Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ to create informal drifts in wild gardens, softening hard edges and providing bright, steady color all season long.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Tradescantia, commonly called spiderworts, is a genus of about 65 species of herbaceous perennials from North, Central and South America. They are grown for their showy, three-petaled flowers and attractive foliage. The Andersoniana Group of hybrid spiderworts are some of the most common perennial spiderworts seen in cultivation. ‘Hawaiian Punch’ is a clump-forming perennial which typically grows 12-18” tall. Cerise red, three-petaled flowers are borne in terminal clusters atop stiff stems, blooming in succession from late May into early August.

Tolerances

• Wet Soil

Potential Problems

Spiderworts like Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ are generally robust and suffer from few serious pest or disease issues, making them low-stress additions to the garden. However, young shoots are highly attractive targets for early-season pests such as snails and caterpillars, which can chew unsightly holes in tender new growth. Protect vulnerable young plants with physical barriers or appropriate controls until they mature enough to self-defend. A more common issue involves summer aesthetics; foliage of the Spiderwort frequently sprawls unattractively by mid-summer, requiring gardeners to employ the hard pruning technique mentioned previously to refresh the plant’s appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Spiderwort suitable for?

Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ is hardy across USDA Zones 4 through 9, offering flexibility for many gardeners across different climates.

How large does Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ grow?

This specific cultivar typically matures to a height and spread range of 1 to 1.5 feet tall and wide.

What sun exposure does Spiderwort need?

This plant performs well in a broad spectrum, accepting conditions ranging from full sun, especially if moisture is plentiful, to part shade.

Conclusion

Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ delivers reliable, vibrant cerise red blooms throughout the summer, solidifying its role as an essential perennial for moist garden locations. This resilient Spiderwort requires only moderate maintenance, particularly summer pruning to maintain a tidy look. Before planting, confirm your local USDA Hardiness Zone falls within the 4 to 9 range for best results with this colorful variety.

Companion Planting

When planting Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’, it is beneficial to select companions that also enjoy consistently moist or wet soil conditions, mirroring its preference for rain gardens and waterside settings. Pairing it with plants that have contrasting foliage textures, such as large-leaved Hostas or ferns, helps mask the occasional mid-summer decline in Spiderwort foliage. For continued color interest after the bloom rush, consider placing Astilbes or Ligularia nearby, as they share similar soil and light requirements while providing later-season visual appeal.

Propagation Tips

The most straightforward and common way to propagate Tradescantia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ is through simple division. As the central clump becomes crowded, typically every three to four years, dig up and separate the established roots and crowns in early spring or early fall. Ensure each resulting division has a healthy set of roots and at least one viable growing point. Alternatively, stems can sometimes be rooted in water or moist soil, especially after taking cuts during the primary growing season, creating new specimens with ease.