25 Seeds Tradescantia occidentalis Western Spiderwort Native Wildflower Prairie Cottage Garden

Tradescantia occidentalis, commonly known as Western Spiderwort, is a hardy native perennial wildflower that brings a graceful, natural look to meadows, prairie plantings, and informal garden borders. It forms clumps of long, narrow, grass-like foliage and produces clusters of three-petaled blossoms in shades of blue, violet, and purple from late spring into midsummer. Its relaxed, arching habit and long bloom window make it a favorite for wildflower gardens, pollinator plantings, and low-maintenance landscape designs.
Western Spiderwort works well in native plant gardens, cottage borders, pollinator strips, and naturalized meadow areas. The flowers open in the morning and tend to close by afternoon, giving the garden a shifting display through the season. Combine it with other prairie perennials such as coneflower, rudbeckia, and grasses for a layered, season-long planting. Allow spent blooms to remain if you wish to encourage self-seeding, or trim back lightly to tidy the clump.
Species: Tradescantia occidentalis
Type: Herbaceous perennial wildflower
Plant Habit: Clump-forming, upright to slightly arching
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained, average to dry; tolerates sandy and rocky soils
Days to Harvest: Not applicable
Zones: 3 to 9
Germination: 14 to 30 days with cold stratification
Sowing: Surface sow and press lightly into soil; do not cover deeply
Spacing: 12 to 18 inches
Notes: Native prairie perennial; blooms late spring to midsummer