Illustration of spiderwort
spiderwort
noun
spi·der·wort
ˈspī-dər-ˌwərt 
-ˌwȯrt
plural spiderworts
: any of a genus (Tradescantia of the family Commelinaceae, the spiderwort family) of American monocotyledonous, usually trailing or creeping plants with narrow leaves and often short-lived white, rose, blue, or violet flowers and that includes some (such as the inch plant) grown as houseplants especially for their ornamental usually striped foliage : tradescantia
Examples of spiderwort in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For a native shade garden, consider Virginia spiderwort.
—
Lauren David, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
Native Americans used most parts of spiderwort for food and medicine.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
Myu-myu Also known as spiderwort, this perennial has pretty grassy foliage and bright purple flowers.
—Terri Robertson, Country Living, 18 Jan. 2023
The plantings include hostas, astilbe, daylilies, roses, lamium, Japanese anemones, spiderwort, coral-bells, zinnia, clematis, dianthus and different kinds of sedum.
—Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 July 2021
This is hairy flower spiderwort – Tradescantia hirsutiflora.
—Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 18 Apr. 2021
Calla lilies and spiderwort are best divided in the spring, just as new growth begins.
—oregonlive, 7 Nov. 2020
There are a lot of ferns, mayapples, monks hood, goats beard, gooseneck loosestrife, iris of all kinds, daylilies, tiger lilies, spiderwort, lungwort and lamb's ear.
—Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2020
Bulb-type plants: Achimenes, African iris, bulbine, caladium, canna, crinum, crocosmia, day lily, eucharis lily, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, peacock ginger, society garlic, spiderwort, rain lily and walking iris.
—Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 30 June 2018
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lauren David, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
Native Americans used most parts of spiderwort for food and medicine.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
Myu-myu Also known as spiderwort, this perennial has pretty grassy foliage and bright purple flowers.
—Terri Robertson, Country Living, 18 Jan. 2023
The plantings include hostas, astilbe, daylilies, roses, lamium, Japanese anemones, spiderwort, coral-bells, zinnia, clematis, dianthus and different kinds of sedum.
—Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 July 2021
This is hairy flower spiderwort – Tradescantia hirsutiflora.
—Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 18 Apr. 2021
Calla lilies and spiderwort are best divided in the spring, just as new growth begins.
—oregonlive, 7 Nov. 2020
There are a lot of ferns, mayapples, monks hood, goats beard, gooseneck loosestrife, iris of all kinds, daylilies, tiger lilies, spiderwort, lungwort and lamb's ear.
—Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2020
Bulb-type plants: Achimenes, African iris, bulbine, caladium, canna, crinum, crocosmia, day lily, eucharis lily, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, peacock ginger, society garlic, spiderwort, rain lily and walking iris.
—Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 30 June 2018
Cite this Entry
“Spiderwort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiderwort. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share