Ohio Bluejacket Spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis
Common Names: Smooth Spiderwort, Ohio Spiderwort, Blue Jacket
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Height or Length at Maturity: 2-3′
Width at Maturity: 2-3′
Spacing: 24″ apart for groupings or mass plantings; 48″+ for space between plants
Spacing: 24″ apart for groupings or mass plantings; 48″+ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Spreading Mound
Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
Flower Color: Blue to Purplish Blue
Flower Type: 3 leaf – Simple
Flower Size: .75-1.5″
Flowering Period: Mid Spring to Mid-Summer
Flowering Period: Mid Spring to Mid-Summer
Fragrant Flowers: NA
Foliage Color: Medium Green
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: No
Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun
Water Needs: Average, Low when established
Soil Type: Clay (Amend heavy clay), Loam, Sandy, Silt
Soil Drainage: Moist But Well Drained; Drought tolerant when established
Soil pH: 5.0 – 8.0
Maintenance / Care: Low
Attracts: Butterflies, Beneficial Pollinators, Visual Attention
Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-30F / Zones 4-9), Deer – more info, Disease, Drought (when established), Salt
Description
The Ohio Bluejacket Spiderwort is robust, adaptive and floriferous North American native perennial that thrives in moist or dry loamy, clay, gravelly, sandy or average garden soils, full sun to part shade, and heat to Florida and Texas zones 9b and cold to -40F. From mid spring to mid summer abundant clusters of lovely ephemeral flowers in shades of violet or blue violet-blue are produced at the ends of arching stems on the spreading mound of somewhat grass-like, greyish-blue tinged foliage. The 3-petaled triangular-shaped flowers are adorned with 6 bright yellow anthers at the center. Each flower only lasts a day but there is such an abundance of flower buds that the plant is always in bloom during its bloom period. The butterflies and beneficial pollinators will thank you for planting this one!
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing in a beefy clump 2 to 3 feet tall and equally as wide, the Ohio Bluejacket Spiderwort is ideal for use as an accent in smaller garden spaces and containers or in groupings or spotted in larger spaces. Suitable for use as an erosion controller on slopes and embankments. A fine addition to rain gardens, butterfly gardens, beneficial pollinator gardens, native gardens, rock gardens, blue theme gardens, cottage gardens and cut flower gardens.
Suggested Spacing: 24 inches apart for groupings or mass plantings; 4 feet apart for space between plants
Growing Preferences
Ohio Bluejacket Spiderwort is exceptionally easy to grow in most any moist but well drained to dry soil of average fertility, including clay, sandy and rocky soils. It will thrive in full sun to shade but blooms heavier with more sun. We suggest at least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day. Plants can be cut back after flowering to encourage continued bloom, though this optional.
Note: Find more details and expert advice under the Planting & Care tab on this page.
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