FNPS Plant Database

Tradescantia roseolens

Longleaf spiderwort

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Longleaf spiderwort

Synonym(s):

Tradescantia longifolia

Genus species:

Tradescantia roseolens

Family:

Commelinaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

.5' to 1.5' ft tall by .5' -to 1' ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

lavender

Fruit Color:

green

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Border plantings.

Considerations:

May cause allergic reaction in dogs and cats characterized by red itchy skin.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Dividing root ball, seed, allow seed pods to dry on plant, then break open to collect seeds.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

5.6 - 7.8

Suitable to Grow In:

9A,9B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars

NULL

Attracts pollinators.

Native Habitats:

Sandhill, scrub and disturbed areas.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

The cells of the stamen hairs of some Tradescantia are colored blue, but when exposed to sources of ionizing radiation such as gamma rays, the cells mutate and change color to pink; they are one of the few tissues known to serve as an effective bioassay for ambient radiation levels.

Citations:

Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/). Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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