# Western Spiderwort (*tradescantia occidentalis*)

Western Spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis) is an eye-catching perennial wildflower native to the prairies, dry woodlands, and sandy soils of central and western North America. Renowned for its delicate, striking blue to purple three-petaled blooms, it is a favorite among wildflower enthusiasts and a vital pollen source for native insects. Interestingly, the plant's ephemeral flowers usually open in the early morning and melt into a soft jelly by midday under the hot sun, a fascinating process known as deliquescence. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the Western Spiderwort has a unique scientific claim to fame: the microscopic hairs on its stamens are highly sensitive to radiation and can mutate from blue to pink in the presence of gamma rays or other ionizing radiation, making the plant a natural bioindicator.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Found primarily in dry prairies, sandy or rocky meadows, roadside ditches, and open woodlands across central and western North America.

![Western Spiderwort](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/11235013/medium.jpeg)

Photo: Sam Kieschnick, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/11235013)

## Appearance

The Western Spiderwort features distinct, vibrant, three-petaled flowers that range in color from deep violet-blue to magenta or even pale pink, adorned with bright yellow, fluffy anthers in the center. Its stems are erect, jointed, and somewhat fleshy, growing up to 60 centimeters tall. The leaves are long, narrow, and grass-like, with a grayish-green tint, often folding lengthwise down the middle. When a stem or leaf is broken, it secretes a viscous, thread-like sap that resembles spider silk.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Commelinales
- **Family:** Commelinaceae
- **Genus:** Tradescantia

## Interesting facts

- Because of its sensitivity to radiation, the plant has actually been planted near nuclear facilities in the past to act as a living radiation detector.
- Despite attracting many bees and flies with bright colors, Western Spiderwort flowers don't produce any nectar; visitors come strictly for the rich pollen.
- The name 'Spiderwort' likely comes from the plant's stringy, viscous sap that resembles a spider's web when you snap a stem in half.
- Western Spiderwort flowers are 'ephemeral,' meaning each bloom lasts for only a single morning before turning into a jelly-like liquid.

## Special abilities

- **Radiation Bioindicator:** The stamen hairs of the flower mutate from blue to pink when exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation.
- **Floral Deliquescence:** The petals undergo autolysis and dissolve into a jelly-like fluid by midday under intense heat to conserve resources.
- **Mucilaginous Sap:** It produces a sticky, stringy sap when its stems or leaves are broken, which helps seal wounds and deter herbivores.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 15-60 cm
- **Lifespan:** 3-10 years

## Diet & Feeding

As a photosynthetic plant, the Western Spiderwort produces its own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

- **Primary Foods:** Sunlight, Water, Soil Nutrients, Carbon Dioxide
- **Foraging Method:** Photosynthesis

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinator:** Western Bumble Bee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — Pollinates the flowers while gathering pollen, as spiderworts do not produce nectar.
- **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Grazes on the succulent foliage and stems of the plant.
- **Pollinator:** [Margined Calligrapher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/margined-calligrapher) (*Toxomerus marginatus*) — Hoverflies commonly visit the morning flowers to consume and distribute pollen.

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Western 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 long is Western Spiderwort?

15-60 cm

### How long does Western Spiderwort live?

3-10 years

### What does Western Spiderwort eat?

As a photosynthetic plant, the Western Spiderwort produces its own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

### Where is Western Spiderwort usually found?

Found primarily in dry prairies, sandy or rocky meadows, roadside ditches, and open woodlands across central and western North America.

### How does Western Spiderwort hunt?

Photosynthesis

## Where to spot

- [Dinosaur Ridge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dinosaur-ridge) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark
- [First Arthur County Courthouse and Jail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/first-arthur-county-courthouse-and-jail) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site

## 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*)

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Source: [Western Spiderwort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-spiderwort)