Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District

 Ohio Spiderwort (Common Spiderwort)
Tradescantia ohiensis   [C-value 2]
Dayflower family (Commelinaceae)
Blooms mid-May - mid-July

The native Ohio Spiderwort is common in our area. It prefers full or partial sun and moist to slightly dry loamy or gravely soil. Habitats include black soil prairies, savannas and woodland borders. This perennial is 2-4' tall with a few long (up to 15") grey- or blue-green, alternate, linear, grass-like, leaves up to 1" across that wrap around its stem in sheaths. The lovely light violet to blue-violet flowers occur in small clusters on hairless flowering stems at the top of the plant. Each flower is about 1" across, with 3 rounded petals.

Ohio Spiderwort at Maramech Forest Preserve prairie June 14, 2013

The flowers open up during the morning and close by the afternoon in sunny weather, but remain open longer on cloudy days.

Ohio Spiderwort early bloom heads at Oswego-Montgomery Library June 5, 2015

Ohio Spiderwort at Oswego-Montgomery Library June 5, 2015

Ohio Spiderwort at Maramech Forest Preserve July 1, 2013

Ohio Spiderwort at Maramech Forest Preserve July 1, 2013

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