These easy-to-grow perennials produce small but numerous flowers over several weeks in summer.
Spiderwort flowers are comprised of three petals, borne at the tips of foliage stems and often in clusters.
These plants may not have the showiest blooms, but they certainly make up for it with quantity.
Credit: Jay Wilde
There are many buds per stalk, and the bloom time can last up to three months.
There are tropical and perennial options, so many different spiderworts are available.
Where to Plant Spiderwort
Spiderworts aren’t too picky when it comes to exposure.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Many varieties are just as happy in partial shade as in full sun.
Most appreciate some shade from the hot afternoon sun.
There are even some species that will do just fine in full shade.
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
It’s a good choice for planting along awalkwayor garden edging since it grows in low clumps.
How and When to Plant Spiderwort
Plant spiderworts in the spring.
To plant a nursery specimen, dig a hole about the same width and depth as the planting container.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Remove the plant and loosen the roots a bit from the root ball before placing in the hole.
Backfill with soil, tamp lightly, and water well.
Plant spiderwort with about a foot between plants, so they have plenty of room to grow.
Credit: Greg Ryan
Spiderwort Care Tips
Spiderwort is an easy-care plant that grows well in a variety of environments.
However, some species can handle drought better than others and do fine in consistently drier soils.
Spiderwort thrives in humidity but doesn’t need additional moisture if grown in a dry climate.
Credit: Scott Little
Fertilizer
If your soil is fertile, extra feeding isn’t needed.
you could addcompostto your soil throughout the season, but it isn’t necessary.
Pruning
Unfortunately, spiderwort can look ragged after it finishes blooming.
Credit: Matthew Benson
Foliage is generally the first thing to decline, becoming yellowed and limp.
When this happens, plants can be cut back to the ground.
To keep this from happening, mid-seasonpruningis helpful.
Credit: Cynthia Haynes
Shear the plant back to 8-12 inches high, and pull leaves from it to promote more blooms.
This process will also help to keep spiderwort from self-sowing and becoming a problem in your garden.
Spiderworts are susceptible to leaf spot, and plants start to decline once they get it.
Since it’s a native wildflower, pests are rarely a problem.
How to Propagate Spiderwort
Propagate spiderwort through division.
Divide clumps in the fall or early spring for replanting.
Dig up the plant and cut or break the clump into smaller sections with leaves and roots attached.
Plant these into the garden at the same depth as the original plant and water well.
Since spiderworts are self-seeding, there’s not usually a need to plant them from seeds.
It blooms in early summer and grows 2 feet tall.
The brilliant purple flowers are dramatic against the leaves.
It grows to 15 inches tall.
Zones 4-8
‘Innocence’ Spiderwort
Tradescantia’Innocence' bears pure white flowers in early to midsummer.
It grows 2 feet tall and wide.
Zones 4-9
White Spiderwort
Tradescantiaxandersonianahas broadly grassy leaves that clasp the fleshy stems.
It grows 3 feet tall.
Depending on the variety, Coreopsis also bears golden-yellow, pale yellow, pink, or bicolor flowers.
It will bloom from early to midsummer or longeras long as it’s deadheaded.
Zones 3-9
Lady’s Mantle
Lady’s mantlelooks great in the gardenand a vase.
The chartreuse flowers appear in frothy clusters above the foliage.
Zones 3-7
Loosestrife
These vigorous growersare beautiful additionsto the garden.
Flowers are tight spikes of 1/2-inch to 1-inch cups carried alone or in whorls.
Unfortunately, several sorts may become invasive and need to be controlled.
Since each flower only lasts about a day it’s not absolutely necessary to deadhead the plants.
But deadheading can encourage a second bloom and it does help to prevent self-seeding.
When deadheading, cut the entire flower stalk back to the foliage base.
