Dwarf spiderwort is a low-growing perennial with bright magenta, purple, or purplish-blue flowers with three petals arranged in a triangular pattern. It blooms in Ozark woodlands in April and May.
Dwarf spiderwort is a low-growing, clump-forming perennial that is nearly stemless: the leaves are basal, appearing to grow in a whorl, seemingly from the ground. At most, the plant stem is about 4 inches tall.
The flowers are on hairy stalks 1–2¼ inches tall, grow in clusters, and can be bright magenta, purple, or purplish blue, with the three petals arranged in a triangular pattern; the 6 stamens are bearded and fluffy. Each flower is open for just one day.
Blooms April–May.
The leaves are basal, irregularly hairy, grasslike, wide, with a crease along the center vein.
Similar species: There are 8 species of spiderworts in the Missouri flora, plus several documented hybrids that display characteristics of more than one species.
Keep in mind that dwarf spiderwort occurs natively only in the the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas and the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas.
- Dwarf spiderwort has been known to hybridize (rarely) with smooth spiderwort (Tradescantia ohioensis).
- Another species, Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana), occurs in many of the same areas as dwarf spiderwort. It is only sparsely hairy (if at all) and grows to 16 inches high. It, too, can hybridize with smooth spiderwort.
Height: 6–8 inches.
Scattered, restricted to the eastern half of the Ozark and Ozark Border Divisions. Cultivated statewide.
Habitat and Conservation
Occurs in rocky, mesic upland to dry upland forests in ravines and on ridges; less commonly along the edges of glades and old fields; usually on acidic substrates.
Status
Native Missouri wildflower. Virtually endemic to the Ozarks and Ouachita Mountains.
Human Connections
This is an interesting native perennial with showy flowers that can be grown in rock gardens or in other types of gardens. Get plants from an ethical native wildflower nursery. Plants for sale at most garden centers are usually hybrids.
The species name, longipes ("long-footed"), doesn't immediately make sense with such a low-growing species, but apparently it refers to the relatively long leaves.
Ecosystem Connections
Bumblebees and other insects pollinate this plant, and a number of herbivorous mammals, including deer, rabbit, and livestock, eat the foliage.
Spiderworts are in the same genus as several common houseplants, including the ones called inch plant, "wandering Jew," or (increasingly) "wandering dude" (Tradescantia zebrina, whose leaves are striped with purple and silver) and purple heart or purple queen (T. pallida, whose leaves are completely purple). The familiar blue-flowering garden weed called common dayflower (Commelina communis) is in the same family.
