Best Perennial, The

This native beauty is so adaptable that it will grow just about anywhere.

If you want a plant that is really easy, try spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana). Although the name may sound scary, the results sure aren't. Throughout the summer, this versatile wildflower rarely stops blooming.

Spiderwort is an old-fashioned, long-lived favorite that has been shared between gardeners for years. Its coarse-textured, deep green foliage is distinctive. Arching, lanceshaped leaves are borne on round, upright stems, giving the plant a grasslike look. The charming three-petaled blooms, often in shades of blue and purple, last just a day, but over the next six to eight weeks, additional flowers open daily.

For More Flowers

To extend the bloom time even longer, Patrick Snider, a gardener at Oxmoor Farms in Louisville, Kentucky, recommends cutting plants back to the ground once they have finished flowering (around July). "New foliage will appear," says Patrick, "and before you know it, you will have more flowers that last into September."

Through the years, folks have hybridized spiderwort to yield larger blooms in various colors such as rich purples, pinks, whites, and even a soft red. These hybrids are often sold under the name T. x andersoniana.

Plant Me Anywhere

Spiderwort's only preference is slightly acid-to-neutral soil that is moist and well drained. However, it will grow in dry woods in the wild. Clay soils that drain pose no problem, and sandy soils are okay, too, as long as they don't stay dry for a long time. Spiderwort isn't picky about sun and will perform equally well in light shade or full sun. Don't worry about cold temperatures, as it will more than survive winters in the Upper South.

Plant it along the edges of borders or woodland paths, allowing enough room for it to spread. Offering an extended supply of coveted blossoms, spiderwort attracts bees and butterflies when planted in sunny locations.

If conditions are right, this plant will reseed and can even become invasive. To control, pull unwanted plants by hand when young. In the fall, cut it back to the ground, and add mulch.

Good Companions

Spiderwort's clump-forming habit works well with rounded to upright plants. In sunny borders, try it with hollyhocks, lilies, and 'Annabelle' smooth hydrangeas. For shady spots, pair it with elephant's ears, foxgloves, or mahonias. REBECCA BULL REED

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation May 2005
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