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

Illustration of spiderwort

Examples of spiderwort in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined above