# Ohio spiderwort (*Tradescantia ohiensis*) Ohio spiderwort is a beautiful flower with long, green leaves and bright blue-purple blooms. It grows in clumps and can be found in gardens and fields, adding color to the landscape. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 31 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Ohio spiderwort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Tradescantia_ohiensis_03_ies.jpg&width=800) Photo: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tradescantia_ohiensis_03_ies.jpg) ## Appearance The Ohio spiderwort has striking three-petaled flowers, typically vibrant blue-violet to purple, that bloom atop tall, grass-like green stems. Its distinctive slender leaves and robust clumping growth distinguish it from many other wildflowers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Commelinales - **Family:** Commelinaceae - **Genus:** Tradescantia ## Interesting facts - If you cut its stem, the sticky sap looks like tiny spiderwebs! - Its sap turns pink when exposed to certain radiation, acting like a natural pollution detector! - Native Americans once used its juice to dye fabrics purple. - The fresh flowers are edible and taste a little like sweet garden peas. ## Special abilities - **Morning Glory Trick:** Ohio spiderwort flowers close in the afternoon to protect pollen and conserve moisture, helping it survive sunny days. - **Nature's Bandage:** Ohio spiderwort has a gooey sap that can soothe skin irritations and seal minor plant wounds, aiding its recovery. - **Adaptable Survivor:** Ohio spiderwort can thrive in many different soil types, from sandy to clay, helping it grow in diverse environments. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-100 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers for nectar - **Pollinates:** [monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on flower nectar ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ohio spiderwort? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Ohio spiderwort? 60-100 cm ### How wide does Ohio spiderwort spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Ohio spiderwort? 2-3 cm ### When does Ohio spiderwort bloom? Late spring to mid-summer ### Is Ohio spiderwort edible? Yes ### Is Ohio spiderwort toxic? None ### What is Ohio spiderwort's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Capitol Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-park-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Grand Circus Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-circus-park-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Minnesota Landscape Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/minnesota-landscape-arboretum) — Minnesota, US · Botanical Garden - [Tockwotton-Love Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tockwotton-love-place-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Vanderbilt University](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/vanderbilt-university) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [William O'Brien State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/william-obrien-state-park) — Minnesota, US · State Park [View all places to see Ohio spiderwort](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ohio-spiderwort) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Ohio spiderwort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ohio-spiderwort)