Trandescantia ohioensis-Smooth spiderwort

Description

I was surprised to read that this species is native to New England; it can be found growing in meadows, thickets, and prairie-like habitat in Massachusetts west to Minnesota and south to Texas. Petal color can naturally range from blue to rose to white. Ohio spiderwort has a whitish bloom on the leaves and stems, which help differentiate it from the more common Virginia spiderwort. Ohio spiderwort has glabrous (smooth, without hairs) pedicels (the stalk of the flower), unlike Virginia spiderwort which has pubescent (hairy) pedicels. The Ladybird Johnson Wildlife center indicates that “when touched in the heat of the day, the flowers shrivel to a fluid jelly”. I haven’t noticed that, but it’s an interesting thing to watch for. Trandescantia will freely hybridize with just about any other spiderwort species in the garden. Now that I am looking for them, I have noticed lots of spiderworts in peoples yards. Flowers in mid June; color is a spectacular shade of purple-blue.

2 gal size, $18.00 (Seed grown, MOFGA certified organic.