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Hairyflower Spiderwort

Tradescantia hirsutiflora

Other common name(s):

Family:

Commelinaceae (Spiderwort Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Groundcover

Height

1
to
1.5
ft.

Spread

0.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Acid, Moist

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Blue, Purple

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees

Maintenance

It is well adapted to wet spots and will tend to spread out in disturbed ground. Cut back after blooming to encourage fall blooms. Tradescantia species will hybridize in just about any combination. Propagation: Seed and division.

Comments

Blooms March-August. The species name hirsutiflora means “hairy flower. The spider part of the name could refer to the long spidery leaves or the web like strands produced by the mucilaginous sap. The pink to purple flowers are edible. Spiderwort flower can detect radiation. Low level exposure will turn the bluish filament hairs on the stamen pink. Pollination: Nectar insects, bees.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Tradescantia australis, Tradescantia discolor, Tradescantia eglandulosa

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=TRHI. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Tradescantia+hirsutiflora&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=7723&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=39164#null., 6)https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-tradescantia/

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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