Spiderwort: An Edible Native Plant

Spiderwort may have an unusual name, but its beautiful blue-violet flowers are a welcome sight in Florida’s spring landscape. This hardy native wildflower has provided food and traditional remedies, attracted pollinators, and brightened gardens for generations.

A Flower That Lasts Only a Day

Spiderwort belongs to the genus Tradescantia. Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) is native to much of Florida and grows naturally in open woods, roadsides, meadows, and disturbed areas. Its long, narrow leaves resemble thick blades of grass, while its flowers usually have three blue or violet petals surrounding bright yellow stamens.

Each flower remains open for less than a day. On warm, sunny afternoons, the petals often close and become almost jelly-like. Fortunately, the plant produces many buds, so fresh flowers may open each morning for six to eight weeks. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions describes it as a clump-forming perennial that usually blooms in spring.

The name “spiderwort” may refer to the sticky sap that appears when a stem is broken. As the sap hardens, it can stretch into fine, silky strands resembling a spider’s web. The ending “wort” is an old English word for a plant—especially one believed to have medicinal value.

Native American Uses

Long before Europeans arrived in North America, Indigenous peoples knew spiderwort as a useful plant. The best-documented traditions involve Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana), a close relative of Florida’s native spiderworts.

According to a USDA plant guide, the Cherokee and other Native American peoples gathered the tender young leaves and ate them raw as salad greens. They also mixed the leaves with other greens and boiled or fried them.

Spiderwort was also used in traditional medicine. Documented preparations included:

• Mashed plant material placed on insect bites to soothe pain and itching

• Tea made from the plant and taken as a laxative or for stomach discomfort

• Spiderwort combined with other plants in preparations for kidney and women’s ailments

• Mashed roots applied as a poultice for serious illnesses

These practices are important parts of Indigenous ethnobotanical history, but they should not be treated as proven modern medical treatments. In particular, a traditional remedy for cancer or another serious illness is not evidence that the plant can cure that condition.

It is also important to recognize that Native American peoples were—and remain—many distinct nations with their own knowledge and traditions. A use documented among the Cherokee should not automatically be attributed to every Indigenous community.

Spiderwort and Early Settlers

Detailed records of Native American uses are stronger than records describing how European settlers used spiderwort. However, settlers frequently learned about native food and medicinal plants through contact with Indigenous peoples. Spiderwort’s tender leaves, stems, and flowers could supplement other spring greens, while its soothing sap became associated with household treatment of bites and minor skin irritation.

European colonists and plant collectors also valued spiderwort for its beauty. Virginia spiderwort was among the earliest North American wildflowers carried to English gardens during the 1600s. The plant’s scientific name honors John Tradescant the Elder and his son, John Tradescant the Younger—prominent English gardeners and plant collectors associated with King Charles I. The younger Tradescant traveled to colonial Virginia searching for unfamiliar plants.

By about 1629, spiderwort was being grown in England. Thus, a familiar American wildflower became one of the early botanical treasures exchanged between colonial North America and Europe. Over time, gardeners developed additional colors and cultivated varieties.

Can Spiderwort Be Eaten Today?

Some extension sources describe the flowers, young leaves, and tender stems of native spiderwort as edible. The flowers may be added to salads, while young shoots have traditionally been cooked like greens or prepared somewhat like asparagus.

However, caution is appropriate. “Spiderwort” refers to numerous species, including cultivated houseplants and nonnative plants. Some Tradescantia species can irritate the skin, mouth, or digestive system. Plants growing beside roads or in treated landscapes may also be contaminated by herbicides, pesticides, vehicle exhaust, or animal waste.

Never eat a wild plant unless its identity is certain and a knowledgeable expert has confirmed that the particular species and plant part are safe. Anyone with allergies, medical conditions, or prescription medications should consult an appropriate healthcare professional before trying an unfamiliar wild food or herbal preparation.

A Friend to Pollinators

Spiderwort’s yellow anthers offer pollen to visiting insects, particularly bees. Unlike many flowers, spiderwort does not provide nectar, but its abundant pollen is still a valuable food source. Bumblebees and other native bees may visit the flowers during the cool morning hours when they are fully open.

Because spiderwort blooms for several weeks, a clump can provide a dependable succession of fresh flowers. It works well in a native or pollinator garden when combined with wildflowers that supply nectar.

Growing Spiderwort in Florida

Spiderwort is a forgiving plant that can grow in sun or partial shade. It generally performs well in moist, well-drained soil but tolerates periods of dryness once established. In rich soil or deep shade, its stems may become floppy.

After flowering, gardeners can cut the plant back to encourage fresh foliage and control unwanted seedlings. Spiderwort can spread readily, which is helpful in an informal naturalized garden but may require management in a small or carefully arranged flower bed.

Florida gardeners should choose a native species such as Ohio spiderwort rather than invasive small-leaf spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis). The nonnative species can form dense mats that crowd out native vegetation. UF/IFAS identifies small-leaf spiderwort as an invader of forests, hammocks, wetlands, and other natural areas.

A Plant Worth Noticing

Spiderwort is much more than a pretty roadside flower. Its brief blossoms remind us to appreciate the beauty of each morning. Its history tells a larger story of Indigenous plant knowledge, early colonial gardens, and the movement of American plants around the world.

Whether growing beside a woodland trail or in a Florida pollinator garden, spiderwort connects the present landscape with centuries of human experience. It is a humble wildflower with a surprisingly rich story.