Spiderwort (Tradescantia ernestiana)
Tradescantia ernestiana (Spiderwort) is a clump-forming perennial offering rose-red to purple blooms in spring. Ideal for shady, moist gardens.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Tradescantia ernestiana, commonly known as Spiderwort, offers reliable color and texture for shaded garden spaces across its native range in the Central United States. This clump-forming perennial provides a unique springtime display seldom matched by other shade-loving plants. Gardeners value this Spiderwort for its ease of care and its ability to naturalize gently over time, creating lush ground cover.
The distinct appeal of Tradescantia ernestiana lies in its delicate, three-petaled flowers that flash vibrant colors ranging from rose-red to deep purple. Although each individual flower lasts only one day, the continuous succession of blooms across April and May extends the visual interest considerably. The foliage remains attractive, offering a clean look that contrasts well with later-blooming woodland natives.
Cultivating Tradescantia ernestiana is generally straightforward for gardeners meeting its specific moisture requirements. It thrives best providing structure and color in woodland settings or along stream banks, requiring protection from the harshest afternoon sun. Proper management of its growth cycle, particularly cutting back older foliage, keeps this Spiderwort looking tidy throughout the growing season.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Commelinaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Native Range: Central United States
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-2 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: April to May
- Bloom Description: Rose-red to blue to deep purple
- Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
- Water Needs: Medium to wet
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
This woodland perennial establishes best when planted in the spring or early fall, ensuring new roots can develop before periods of extreme weather. Tradescantia ernestiana requires well-drained soil, although it tolerates moisture well, preferring average to wet conditions. For optimal performance, aim for moist, acidic, humusy soils, mirroring its natural habitat in woodland valleys and ravines.
Watering should remain consistent, especially as the plant establishes or during dry spells, remembering its preference for medium to wet soil conditions. Fertilization is rarely necessary if the soil is rich in organic matter. The most important cultural practice is deadheading; remove spent flower clusters promptly after all buds have opened to encourage a longer bloom presentation from this beautiful Spiderwort.
As summer heat peaks, you may notice the foliage of Tradescantia ernestiana beginning to decline or sprawl unattractively. This is the perfect time for a rejuvenation cut; shear the stems back hard, nearly to the ground. This drastic measure encourages fresh, clean foliage growth and often rewards the diligent gardener with a secondary, albeit smaller, bloom flush later in the late summer or fall. Dividing overgrown clumps is best done in spring or fall, providing fresh material to spread throughout your shady borders.
Landscape Uses
Tradescantia ernestiana excels as a foundational plant in mixed borders or naturalized woodland gardens where its moisture needs can be consistently met. Its early-season color is perfect for brightening the transition between spring ephemerals and summer bloomers. Consider using this sturdy Spiderwort along the edges of ponds or moist drainage areas where its need for medium to wet soil is guaranteed.
Due to its clumping nature and moderate height (1-2 feet), Tradescantia ernestiana fits well in the middle ground of layered shade plantings. It pairs beautifully with plants that offer contrasting texture, such as ferns, Hosta varieties with bold leaves, or Astilbe, which shares a similar affinity for moist, rich soil. This plant’s habit also makes it suitable for rock gardens situated in dappled sunlight or as an informal edging plant.
For those seeking a low-maintenance approach, allow Tradescantia ernestiana to naturalize along tree lines or over banks, where it will eventually form dense colonies that suppress weeds. Its adaptable flower color allows it to blend seamlessly into both cool blue/purple palettes and warmer pink/red groupings.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Tradescantia ernestiana, sometimes commonly called woodland spiderwort, is a clump-forming perennial that is native to Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. In Missouri it is typically found in moist woodland valleys, ravines and slopes in the southwestern corner of the state (Steyermark). It grows to 12-24” tall. Dayflower-like green foliage emerges in spring. Foliage lacks the white coating found on some other spiderworts. Three-petaled flowers (to 1.5” diameter), accented by contrasting yellow stamens, are borne in terminal clusters (umbels) atop stiff stems. Flower color varies from rose-red to blue to deep purple. Multiple flower buds form in each cluster, but individual flowers open up only a few at a time, each for only one day, blooming in succession in a relatively short April-May bloom period. This spiderwort is very similar in appearance to Tradescantia ozarkana (lighter flower color) and T. Virginiana (narrower leaf blade).Genus name honors John Tradescant (1570-1638) and his son John Tradescant (1608-1662), botanists and successive gardeners to Charles I of England.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
Generally, Tradescantia ernestiana is robust and rarely faces serious insect or disease issues, making it a straightforward choice for beginners. The primary aesthetic concerns revolve around pests affecting young growth. Be vigilant early in the season for snails and caterpillars, which can chew unsightly holes in the tender emerging shoots.
The most common issue is the mid-summer slump where the foliage loses its turgidity and begins to sprawl, which detracts significantly from the garden view. Successful management here involves the heavy pruning technique described earlier; cutting the stems back hard will stimulate a fresh flush of growth, revitalizing the appearance of your Spiderwort patch for the remainder of the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Spiderwort suitable for?
Tradescantia ernestiana is well-suited for gardeners in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.
How large does Tradescantia ernestiana grow?
When fully mature, this perennial typically reaches a height between 1 and 2 feet tall, spreading to a similar width of 1 to 2 feet.
When does Spiderwort bloom?
This variety of Spiderwort displays its colorful blooms primarily from April through May, featuring flowers that range in color from rose-red to deep purple.
What sun exposure does Tradescantia ernestiana need?
This plant thrives best in partial shade to full shade conditions, preferring protection from intense, direct afternoon sun.
Conclusion
Tradescantia ernestiana serves as an invaluable perennial for adding reliable, vibrant color to the shaded corners of the garden. Its tolerance for moisture and relatively simple late-season grooming ensure that this Spiderwort remains a low-fuss structural plant. Before planting this spring, confirm that your location provides the required shade and moist soil conditions to maximize the performance of your new Tradescantia ernestiana.
Companion Planting
When selecting neighbors for Tradescantia ernestiana, prioritize plants that enjoy similar moisture levels and protection from harsh sun. Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) is an excellent partner, offering a complementary blue bloom at a similar time. Ferns, such as Japanese Painted Ferns or Autumn Ferns, provide incredible textural contrast with their finely cut foliage against the broader leaves of the Spiderwort.
Consider placing Tradescantia ernestiana near late-spring bloomers like Siberian Iris or early Peonies, ensuring continuous interest as the seasons transition. Because this perennial benefits from a hard cutback in early summer, make sure companions planted nearby can fill the resulting gap gracefully, perhaps using shade-tolerant Heuchera or groundcover Sedums that prefer drier conditions slightly further afield.
Propagation Tips
The easiest and most common method for propagating Tradescantia ernestiana is through division. Perform this task in early spring before new growth fully emerges or in the fall after flowering has ceased. Gently lift the clump and carefully tease apart the roots, ensuring each new division has several healthy growth nodes attached.
If you wish to propagate via seed, collect the small pods after flowering has finished, though success rates can vary and genetic characteristics may revert toward bluer tones. Cuttings are also viable; stem cuttings taken during active growth can be rooted in moist soil or water, though division remains the most reliable pathway to increase your stock of this native Spiderwort.
