Spiderwort is our Plant of the Week for this week. While there are many spiderwort species and cultivars available, I am going to talk about just 2 of them. Spiderworts ‘Sweet Kate’ and ‘Concord Grape’ are our 2 favorites here at Grimm’s Gardens.
About Spiderwort
Spiderworts (Tradescantia), are native to North and South America. There are 75 species in this plant genus. This perennial grows like a grass, or daylily, sending out leaf blades that are narrow. It is a member of the dayflower family. The flowers bloom from May to July. The plants grow 1 to 2 feet tall and wide in clumps.
The flowers are borne in clusters atop a flowering stalk. The flowers can be white, pink, purple, blue, lavender, rose, or multi-colored. The part of the flower we see as colorful are actually floral bracts called sepals. These attract the insects that pollinate them and guide them to the true flowers.
The flowers are visited by many pollinators, including bees, butterflies, flies, and wasps. Therefore, I recommend growing spiderworts in your pollinator gardens and beds. If you are making a bee friendly garden, then this plant is for you. https://beespotter.org/topics/beegarden/
Cultivars of Spiderwort
While it is true that many of the native species of Tradescantia are aggressive when planted in the landscape, the cultivars are not. ‘Sweet Kate’ is a chartreuse leaved cultivar that loses some of its color when planted in part shade. Put ‘Sweet Kate’ in full sun, mixed with other perennials of differing textures for an outstanding look.
‘Concord Grape’ has green leaves and vivid purple flowers. I like to add ‘Concord Grape’ to the garden in place of the thuggish Ohio Spiderwort. I have a customer who has gone from the norm and planted different grass-like perennials together, for an amazing textural look. They have spiderwort, daylily, iris, and lily in the same bed.
Spiderwort Pest Problems
These perennials have few if any insect pests or disease issues. They may occasionally have issues with spider mites or aphids. I have only noticed feeding from deer and rabbits on the plants in my garden in early spring. However, I usually cage them until more favorable animal feeders are up.
Where to Find Spiderwort
You can find the cultivars ‘Sweet Kate’ and ‘Concord Grape’ at our nurseries in Nebraska City or outside of Hiawatha, KS.
Or you can go online at http://www.grimmsgardens.com/?s=spiderwort&submit=Search Hurry, these plants are popular and may sell out quickly.
Happy planting!
