(Tradescantia occidentalis ‘Prairie Spiderwort’)

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Prairie Spiderwort is a native clump-forming perennial flower that can be commonly found growing in hill and elevated sand prairies, and along roadsides and railroads throughout the mid-west and central United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2' and features branching stems, long narrow leaves, and 3 petaled violet-blue flowers that have yellow anthers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, self sows, and is great as a cut flower! 

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  • General Information
  • Germination
  • Seedlings
  • Harvesting
  • Seed Saving
  • Culinary
  • Companion Planting
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​Family: Commelinaceae

Genus: Tradescantia

Species: occidentalis

Variety: Prairie Spiderwort

Also Known As: Western Spiderwort

Native to: Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Manitoba, Mexico Northwest, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Grown as: Perennial
 
Maturity (Blooms): June-July

Light: Full Sun, Part Shade

Water: Low

Soil Moisture: Dry, sandy or fine soils.

Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts Bees, Butterflies, and resists Rabbits. 

Containers: Yes

Height: 8-24”
 
Spacing: 12-15”

Sow Depth: 1/8"
 
USDA Zone: 4a-9b

Produces: branching stems, long narrow leaves, and 3 petaled violet-blue flowers that have yellow anthers.
Direct sow in late fall, planting just below the surface of the soil. For spring planting, mix the seeds with moist sand and store in the refrigerator for 4 months before planting. Keep the soil lightly moist until germination.
Water seedlings occasionally until they become established. Control weeds, since this plant does not like competition. Mature plants tolerate drought and poor soil, in addition to growing well in shallow, rocky soil and sand. This plant may self-seed and spread slowly by rhizomes, and attracts bees. Mature plants can be divided.

Flowers are best used fresh in salads, where they add a mild flavor and interesting texture to conventional salad greens. Stems and leaves can be used fresh or braised like asparagus, and are said to have a flavor very similar to spinach
This species will drop seed from individual flower heads as they ripen even while the bracts remain green and other flowers in the same cluster are in bud or blooming. Species with dispersal apparatus such as awns or hairs will appear dry and fluffy at maturity. 
Several Native American tribes used the young shoots of prairie spiderwort as a food source.
Companions for Spiderwort are Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Golden star (Chrysogonum virginianum), Hyssop leaved boneset (Eupatorium hyssopifolium), Hollow Stem Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum), Beard tongue (Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red'), Sweet Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa).

Suggested Varieties

(Asclepias incarnata ‘Swamp’)

Swamp Milkweed is a native clump forming perennial flower that is commonly found growing in wet areas such as swamps and river edges throughout most of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-4' and features branching stems, 3-6” lance-shaped green leaves, and aromatic clusters of tiny pink flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is used to make cordage and fabric, self sows, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower! 
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