PerennialsTradescantia virginiana
Virginia Spiderwort
Virginia Spiderwort is a graceful perennial with grass-like foliage and three-petalled flower clusters in blue to purple. Each individual bloom lasts only a day, but new buds open continuously from June to September. The plant forms a dense clump and suits borders as well as naturalistic gardens.
Characteristics
- Sun
- Partial shade, Full sun
- Water
- Medium
- Height
- 40–60 cm
- Spread
- 30–50 cm
- Hardiness zone
- 4–9
- Family
- Commelinaceae
- Evergreen
- No
- Flower colors
- blue, purple
- Wildlife value
- bees, butterflies
Bloom period
Care guide
Plant in partial shade or sun in moisture-retentive soil. Spiderwort tolerates most soil types but flowers best in humus-rich, slightly moist ground. Water regularly during dry spells. After the first flush of flowers, cut back for a second wave of blooms.
Pruning tips
Cut the plant back to about 15 centimetres in mid-summer if the foliage looks untidy — this encourages fresh growth and repeat flowering. Remove dead foliage in autumn.
Good companions
PerennialsHosta sieboldiana
Hosta
Hosta is the quintessential shade plant, valued for its large, blue-green, ribbed leaves. Light purple or white bell-shaped flowers appear on tall stems in July and August. Over the years the plant forms substantial clumps that give a shaded border a lush character.
PerennialsAstilbe × arendsii
False Spirea
False Spirea is an elegant shade plant with feathery plumes in pink, red, or white above deeply cut foliage. It blooms from June to August, and the plumes retain their ornamental value even when dried. Astilbe thrives in moist, shady spots where many other plants struggle.
PerennialsGeranium 'Rozanne'
Geranium 'Rozanne'
Geranium 'Rozanne' is one of the longest-flowering perennials, producing bright blue-violet blooms from June until the first frost. It grows as a wide, low mound and makes an outstanding ground cover. Rozanne is tough, disease-free, and fits nearly any garden style.