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Prairie Spiderwort in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Tradescantia occidentalis

 

Prairie Spiderwort

Tradescantia are scrambling plants, some of which flower in the morning and when the sun is shining. The 'spiderworts' form clumps. The flowers of tradescantia are triangular, with three petals, and are short-lived. Tradescantia occidentalis is an excellent groundcover for poor soils, spreading by rhizomes to form colonies that squeeze out weeds and provide some colour in early summer. Grows in any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade.

 
plant Features
  • Prairie Spiderwort likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Prairie Spiderwort likes very little water

    Very little water

  • Prairie Spiderwort is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Prairie Spiderwort likes moist and fertile

    Moist and fertile

 
plant information

Common name

Prairie Spiderwort

Latin name

Tradescantia occidentalis

type

Herbaceous Perennials

family

Commelinaceae

ph

5.0 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Prairie Spiderwort likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Frost

    Prairie Spiderwort is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Soil

    Prairie Spiderwort likes moist and fertile

    Moist and fertile

  • Water

    Prairie Spiderwort likes very little water

    Very little water

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Prairie Spiderwort is 0.45meters x 0.20meters 0.45 M 0.20 M

Tradescantia occidentalis

Tradescantia are scrambling plants, some of which flower in the morning and when the sun is shining. The 'spiderworts' form clumps. The flowers of tradescantia are triangular, with three petals, and are short-lived. Tradescantia occidentalis is an excellent groundcover for poor soils, spreading by rhizomes to form colonies that squeeze out weeds and provide some colour in early summer. Grows in any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade.


Planting young plants

From Late Autumn TO Mid Spring

Plant out garden species from autumn to spring in any fertile and moist soil in full sunlight. As the plants establish, pinch out regularly to promote bushy growth.

 

Propagation by division.

From Late Autumn TO Early Spring

Divide garden plants between late autumn and early spring. Place two hand forks back-to-back near the middle of the plant. Gently push the handles back and forth so that the prongs gradually tease the plant apart. Repeat the process with each portion to divide the plant into more sections, making sure each section has a healthy bud. Discard the old, woody growth from the centre of the plant. Some fibrous-rooted perennials, form a loose crown of many stems and can be simply pulled apart by hand without damaging the plant. You can also take off separate stems growing at the edge of the plant, just make sure each portion has its own roots.

 
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