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Virginia Spiderwort

Tradescantia virginiana

CommonPlant
Illustration of Virginia Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)

Virginia Spiderwort is one of the first-described North American wildflowers, brought to European gardens in the 1600s. Native to the eastern United States, it produces clusters of violet-blue flowers with golden stamens in spring and early summer. The succulent stems exude a mucilaginous sap when broken, giving rise to old folk names. It thrives in lightly shaded or open habitats and naturalizes freely.

Habitat
Found in open woodlands, thickets, roadsides, and moist meadows in eastern North America.
Diet
Provides nectar for native bees; visited by sweat bees and bumblebees collecting pollen.
How common
Common

Best time to see a Virginia Spiderwort

The best time to see a Virginia Spiderwort is May–June, when about 68% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 9,741 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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