Spiderwort - Tradescantia
Above: Spiderwort on the banks of the retaining pond on corner of Nakoma Road and Manitou Way in Madison, Wisconsin. (6/05/19).
Spiderwort - Tradescantia
Spiderwort is a native perennial typically found in prairies, meadows and roadsides. It is most common in southern Wisconsin's prairie-forest region south of the Tension Zone.
Spiderwort has grass-like leaves and clusters of 3-parted, petaled flowers that are pink to blue in color.
The petals are ephemeral, lasting only a day, until the petals start wilting and turn to jelly.
Flowers bloom in June and July.
The latin name Tradescantia is after John Tradescant, Sr., the English gardener to King Charles I.
Other names include: common spiderwort, blue-jacket.
Above: Spiderwort on the banks of the retaining pond on corner of Nakoma Road and Manitou Way on June 5, 2019.
For more information on the Spiderwort, visit Wikipedia.
Or, visit the Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension website page about Tradescantia ohiensis.
Or, visit the Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension website page about Tradescantia bracteata.
Or, download the Chicago Botanic Garden PDF Tradescantia Cultivars.
Spiderwort
Hesperis matronalis
Above: Spiderwort along stone walls and steps of Duck Pond in Madison, Wisconsin on June 8, 2019.
Above: Spiderwort on bank of retaining pond in Madison, Wisconsin on June 8, 2019.
Above: Spiderwort along stone walls and steps of Duck Pond in Madison, Wisconsin on June 8, 2019.
Above: Spiderwort in Oak Savanna on June 9, 2019.
Above: Spiderwort in Oak Savanna on June 10, 2019.
Above: Spiderwort by Duck Pond on June 12, 2019.
Above: Spiderwort in the Oak Savanna on June 14, 2019.
Above: Spiderwort in the Oak Savanna on June 19, 2019.
Above: Spiderwort on shore of retaining pond on June 22, 2019.
Above: Spiderwort in the Oak Savanna on July 3, 2019.
Above: White Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis alba in Thoreau Rain Garden on June 6, 2020.
Above: White Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis alba by Agawa Path on June 13, 2020.
Above: 1920 Spiderwort (Tradescantia) illustration by Mary Vaux Walcott. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist.
