Spiderwort (Tradescantia 'Lucky Charm')
Tradescantia 'Lucky Charm' is a striking Spiderwort perennial offering chartreuse foliage and violet-blue blooms. Low maintenance and water-tolerant.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ is a highly valued selection within the genus commonly known as Spiderwort, prized for its vibrant and uniquely colored foliage contrasted against classic blooms. This compact, herbaceous perennial brings reliable color to the garden from late spring through summer, with its chartreuse leaves providing excellent textural interest even when not flowering. Gardeners appreciate this cultivar for making a bold statement in moist areas where many other plants struggle.
As a hybrid Spiderwort, Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ offers dependability and low maintenance, fitting well into busy landscapes. It thrives in conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade, making it exceptionally adaptable for various garden spots. Its tolerance for wet soil further enhances its utility, particularly when designing rain gardens or moisture gardens.
The visual appeal of Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ is derived from its sturdy, relatively short stature and its lasting performance when properly maintained. Deadheading the spent flower clusters encourages repeat blooming, ensuring gardeners enjoy the violet-blue flowers throughout the peak growing season while managing the foliage decline that can occur in high summer heat.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Commelinaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.75-1 ft
- Spread: 1-1.25 ft
- Bloom Time: May to August
- Bloom Description: Violet-blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium to wet
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ should ideally occur in spring or fall when conditions are cooler, allowing the roots to establish before summer stress. The preference is for average, medium to wet, well-drained soil, though this particular Spiderwort shows excellent tolerance for boggy conditions. Ensure the planting site receives at least partial sun to maintain the best foliage color, although it tolerates deeper shade.
Once established, Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ requires medium water inputs, leaning toward consistently moist, especially in full sun. It prefers moist, acidic, humusy soils. Fertilizing is rarely crucial for this vigorous plant; improving the soil with compost at planting time is often the only amendment necessary. The key maintenance task involves diligent deadheading of each flower cluster after all its buds have opened, which significantly extends the bloom period.
As summer heat intensifies, the foliage of most Spiderwort varieties can look tired or sprawl unattractively. When this occurs for Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’, cut the plants back hard, almost to the ground level. This severe pruning is beneficial, promoting a flush of new, fresh foliage and often triggering a valuable secondary bloom display later in the late summer or fall. Divide overcrowded clumps every few years during the spring cleanup phase.
Landscape Uses
The adaptability of the Spiderwort genus makes Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ invaluable near water features or in areas designated as rain gardens, living up to its suggested use. Its moisture needs align perfectly with stream banks, pond edges, or low-lying areas that collect run-off, helping to manage excess water naturally. Regardless of the specific wet or moist location, its size and striking foliage provide excellent mid-layer structure.
Beyond functional wet areas, this cultivar excels in traditional borders, where its chartreuse leaves offer a bright contrast against deeper green perennials like Hostas or dark-leaved Heucheras. It looks lovely naturalized beneath deciduous trees where it can enjoy dappled light in the spring before the tree canopy fully leafs out. The bright, three-petaled flowers always draw the eye, whether used in wilder garden settings or manicured beds.
Companion plantings should share similar soil and water requirements. Consider pairing Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ with other moisture-loving foliage plants such as ferns, Ligularia, or white Astilbe for a layered, textural look. Its low-growing habit means it functions well near the edge of a border, providing year-round structure around taller summer bloomers.
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. ‘Lucky Charm’ is a compact, hybrid spiderwort selection that features chartreuse foliage and contrasting, violet-blue flowers. Mature clumps will reach around 1’ tall and spread to fill a 1.25’ area, with reblooming possible if plants are cut back after the first flush of blooms.
Tolerances
- Wet Soil
Potential Problems
Spiderwort foliage often sprawls in an unattractive manner by mid-summer, especially if environmental conditions become too dry or hot without cutting back, which is a key management point for Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’. While the plant generally experiences no serious insect or disease problems, gardeners should watch for signs of damage from slugs and caterpillars, particularly on the tender young shoots emerging in early spring. Protecting new growth physically or using appropriate bait during this vulnerable period ensures a cleaner, tidier display throughout the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Spiderwort suitable for?
Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ is hardy and reliably perennial in USDA Zones 5 through 9.
How large does Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ grow?
This compact variety typically reaches a height between 0.75 and 1 foot, spreading to about 1 to 1.25 feet wide.
When does Spiderwort bloom?
The primary bloom time for Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ is from May through August, featuring lovely violet-blue flowers.
What sun exposure does Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ need?
It performs well across a range, needing full sun to tolerating part shade conditions.
Conclusion
Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ brings outstanding value to the garden through its low maintenance needs and unique chartreuse foliage, perfectly complementing its violet-blue flowers. This robust Spiderwort is an essential choice for moisture-retentive spots where reliable color is required throughout the summer. Before planting, confirm your local climate falls within USDA Zones 5-9 and prepare a location with consistent moisture to maximize the performance of your new Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’.
Companion Planting
When selecting companions for Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’, focus on plants that appreciate similar moisture levels and bloom times, which will prevent unsightly gaps later in the season. Grouping it with plants that flower in mid-to-late summer will help mask the foliage decline that can occur after the initial bloom, such as tall, sturdy asters or Joe Pye Weed. For textural contrast, pair the airy habit of the Spiderwort with broad-leaved groundcovers that don’t mind damp roots.
Propagation Tips
The easiest way to propagate Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’ and maintain its established characteristics is through division. Do this in the early spring just as new growth is emerging or in the early fall after the plant has been cut back. Carefully lift the clump and gently tease apart the roots and crowns, ensuring each division has several healthy shoots attached. Replant these divisions immediately into prepared, moist soil to minimize transplant shock.
