General Culture:

Grow in average, medium to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, acidic, humusy soils. Tolerant of boggy soils. Divide clumps when they become overcrowded. Foliage declines after flowering and should be cut back nearly to the ground to encourage new growth and a possible fall bloom. Can self-seed and can spread in ideal growing condition.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

This spiderwort garden hybrid is a clump-forming perennial which typically grows 12-18" tall. Pinkish red, three-petaled flowers (to 1.5" diameter) accented by contrasting yellow stamens are borne in terminal clusters (umbels) atop stiff stems. Numerous buds form in each cluster, but individual flowers open up only a few at a time, each for only one day, blooming in succession from late May into early August. Arching, iris-like, dark green leaves are folded lengthwise forming a groove. When the stems of spiderworts are cut, a viscous stem secretion is released which becomes threadlike and silky upon hardening (like a spider's web), hence the common name.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Young shoots are susceptible to snail damage. Foliage begins to sprawl in an unattractive manner by mid-summer.

Uses:

An interesting and long-blooming perennial for open woodland gardens, wild gardens, naturalized areas or in moist areas along ponds or streams. Also can be grown in borders, but mid-summer foliage decline is a potential disincentive for a prominent placement therein.

© Missouri Botanical Garden, 2001-2010