With so many native Tradescantia species and their ability to grow in full to part sun, it is amazing that so little work has been done with spiderworts. The biggest problem with most tradescantia hybrids is their proclivity to reseed prolifically. We have focused our efforts on some of the great native tradescantia species and a few of the most exceptional hybrids.
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Many folks will be familiar with tradescantia as a houseplant, but some tradescantia species have a tremendous hardiness range and can be grown outdoors almost everywhere in the US. Some tradescantia are tolerant of poor soils but readily thrive in medium-moisture, well-draining soil. The flowers attract butterflies. After tradescantia are finished flowering in summer, the foliage may be sheared back to the ground to rejuvinate both growth and flowering. When you're ready to buy tradescantia for your perennial garden, we hope you'll check out our online list of tradescantia for sale below.
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
(aka: Tradescantia 'Blushing Bride', 'First Blush') Thanks to Larry Hatch of the New Ornamentals Society, we now have the correct name of Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush'. A case of identity theft made it difficult to track down the correct name. It is not reliably hardy north of Zone 8 unless you live in Al Gore's world, despite being listed as Zone 4 in most catalogs. Of course, from Al's point of view, Zone 4 ain't what it used to be, so give it a try. This very cool tradescantia (a still-unidentified species) makes a stunning groundcover or hanging basket of 1" wide, green foliage. In early spring, the new growth emerges with a stunning white-and-pink blush that holds most of the summer...showstopping! Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
This Mexican native spiderwort comes from a Sean Hogan collection about 80 miles northwest of Sierra La Pena in Coahuila, Mexico at 6,500' elevation. Tradescantia sillamontana 'Hogan's Hero' makes a delightful garden plant in addition to a great hanging basket specimen. The tight greenish foliage, which is covered in thick white hairs, clasps the fleshy stems to form a 10" tall x 18" wide clump. In late summer, the stalks are adorned with small lavender flowers, but you're growing this gem for the foliage. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
(syn: Tradescantia 'Blue and Gold') This import from the UK is taking the gardening world by storm! Discovered in the garden of Mrs. Stevens of Rusthall, Kent, it was named after her blond-haired daughter, Kate Stevens. The brilliant golden foliage (brightest in full sun) is highlighted with a procession of deep blue flowers from late spring until fall. If flowering slows, behead the plant...and it, just like an alien, will start to regrow and flower all over again. Each plant is a true masterpiece! Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
This Chinese species is virtually unknown in the commercial trade, but has drawn more than its share of attention in our display garden. Although I say unknown, the name is plenty known...only the plant sold as this at nurseries is a purple-flowered Tricyrtis formosana x hirta hybrid. The real Tricyrtis maculata produces 4' tall sturdy stems that emerge jet black, adorned with huge 8" long x 4" wide leaves that emerge green, but well sprinkled with large black spots (i.e. maculate). As the leaf spots fade in the heat of summer, the upper half of the stalk produces several floral clusters of upright-facing, cream to light green, heavily-spotted flowers in July and August (NC). How did this name get so corrupted in the trade...doesn't anybody actually research to verify their plants are named correctly? Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
(aka: Callisia rosea) Tradescantia rosea 'Morning Grace' is a large growing native (Maryland south to Florida) counterpart to our prior introduction, Tradescantia rosea 'Power Ranger'. Larger in Tradescantia rosea means 8" tall compared to 5" tall. Tradescantia 'Morning Grace' is a Michael Jenkins selection that makes a charming 8" tall x 8" wide clump of narrow green leaves, and is topped from midsummer until fall with tiny lavender-pink flowers that open in the morning and close in the afternoon. After having grown Tradescantia rosea for over a decade, I find it one of the consummate rock garden plants...never becoming a pest like so many of its kin. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
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