Names and Myths

Pontederiaceae

Tradescantia Of Tradescant (John Tradescant 1608-1637 royal gardner to Charles I) virginiana of Virginia

Natural history / Folklore

Spiderworts respond to low level doses of nuclear radiation, filament hairs change from blue to pink.¹² Following pollination petals will wilt.¹¹ Extensively cultivated, escapes into areas outside of its native range.⁴⁶

Description

Flowers violet, purple to pink, sometimes white. Leaves long tapering and bright green. Fowers in spring