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Henderson, Mary S. and Mary Hall

Tradescantia edwardsiana

Tradescantia edwardsiana Tharp

Plateau Spiderwort, Edwards' Spiderwort

Commelinaceae (Spiderwort Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: TRED

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Named after John Tradescant (1608-1662) who served as gardener to Charles I of England.

Tradescantia species will hybridize in just about any combination.

From the Image Gallery

4 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Leaf Margin: Entire
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 28 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Habitat: Endemic to Edwards Plateau. Moist, rich soils.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Conditions Comments: These spring jewels are best planted in an informal or "natural" landscape. Lovely mixed with other groundcovers beneath large trees. The leaves are edible and evergreen in winter.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Nectar Source: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC					FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Tradescantia edwardsiana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Tradescantia edwardsiana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Tradescantia edwardsiana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-03-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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