Tradescantia virginiana
Tradescantia virginiana, the Virginia spiderwort,[1] is the type species of Tradescantia native to the eastern United States. Commonly grown in many gardens and also found growing wild along roadsides and railway lines, there are 75 of hybrids of Tradescantia species, such as Tradescantia ohiensis, the Bluejacket which closely resembles Virginia spiderwort and is the most common and widely distributed species of Tradescantia in North America.[2]
Tradescantia virginiana | |
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Open flower with a Toxomerus sp. hoverfly feeding | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Commelinales |
Family: | Commelinaceae |
Genus: | Tradescantia |
Species: | T. virginiana |
Binomial name | |
Tradescantia virginiana | |
Description
Tradescantia virginiana is a herbaceous plant with alternate, simple leaves, on tubular stems. The flowers are blue, purple, or white, borne in summer.
Cultivation
Tradescantia virginiana is a perennial forb/herb. It likes most moist soils but can adapt to drier garden soils. Plants may be propagated from seed but they are more easily started from cuttings or divisions.
Range
Tradescantia virginiana is found in eastern North America, west to Missouri, south to northern South Carolina and Alabama, and north to Ontario, Vermont, and Michigan. Much of the northern range, however, may represent garden escapes rather than indigenous wild populations.[3]
References
- "Tradescantia virginiana". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
- "Tradescantia ohiensis". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- "9. Tradescantia virginiana Linnaeus". Flora of North America.