Succulent Spiderwort: What You Need to Know About This Uncommon Plant
If you’ve stumbled across the name succulent spiderwort in your gardening adventures, you might be wondering what exactly this plant is all about. Scientifically known as Tradescantia crassula, this perennial forb is part of the larger spiderwort family, though it’s quite different from the more common native spiderworts you might know and love.
The Basics: What Is Succulent Spiderwort?
Succulent spiderwort is a non-native perennial that has found its way into parts of the United States. As a forb, it’s an herbaceous plant without woody stems—think of it as a soft, leafy plant that dies back to the ground each winter but returns from its roots each spring. The succulent part of its name hints at its somewhat fleshy characteristics, setting it apart from its more delicate spiderwort cousins.
Where You’ll Find It
Currently, Tradescantia crassula has been documented growing wild in Arkansas and Florida. As an introduced species, it has managed to establish itself and reproduce without human intervention in these warmer southern states.
Should You Plant Succulent Spiderwort?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. While succulent spiderwort isn’t listed as invasive or noxious, there’s remarkably little information available about this particular species. This lack of documentation makes it difficult to recommend wholeheartedly, especially when there are so many wonderful native alternatives available.
If you’re drawn to the spiderwort family, consider these native options instead:
- Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)
- Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)
- Prairie spiderwort (Tradescantia bracteata)
These native species offer proven benefits to local wildlife, well-documented growing requirements, and the satisfaction of supporting your local ecosystem.
The Information Gap
One of the most honest things we can tell you about Tradescantia crassula is that reliable, detailed information about its growing requirements, wildlife benefits, and garden performance is surprisingly scarce. Unlike well-studied native spiderworts that have extensive documentation about their pollinator relationships, growing conditions, and landscape uses, succulent spiderwort remains something of a mystery plant.
This information gap extends to:
- Specific growing conditions and soil preferences
- USDA hardiness zones
- Wildlife and pollinator benefits
- Mature size and growth habits
- Potential invasive tendencies
Making an Informed Choice
As a gardener, you want plants that you can grow successfully and that contribute positively to your local environment. When information about a plant is limited—as it is with succulent spiderwort—it often makes more sense to choose better-documented alternatives.
Native spiderworts offer the reliability of known growing conditions, proven wildlife benefits, and the peace of mind that comes with planting species that naturally belong in your area. They’re also much easier to find at reputable native plant sales and nurseries.
The Bottom Line
While Tradescantia crassula isn’t necessarily a bad plant, it’s not necessarily a great choice for most gardeners either. The lack of available information, combined with the abundance of well-documented native alternatives, makes it hard to recommend. If you’re set on growing something from the spiderwort family, stick with the native species that will give you the best chance of success and the greatest benefit to your local ecosystem.
Remember, the most rewarding gardens are often those filled with plants that have a story to tell—and right now, succulent spiderwort’s story remains largely unwritten.
