spiderwort

[spahy-der-wurt, -wawrt]

noun

1. any plant of the genus Tradescantia, having blue, purple, or rose-colored flowers.

2. any of several related plants.

spiderwort

/ ˈspaɪdəˌwɜːt /

noun

1. any of various plants of the American genus Tradescantia, esp T. virginiana, having blue, purplish, or pink flowers and widely grown as house plants: family Commelinaceae See also tradescantia

2. any of various similar or related plants

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiderwort¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; spider + wort ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiderwort¹

C17: so called because of the spidery shape of its stamens

Example Sentences

“I told him I wanted flowers every day of the year,” vanEngelsdorp said, but mainly what he insisted on were native plants: spiderwort, aster, bee balm.

From Washington Post

One morning she had me traipsing out at the crack of dawn for prickly poppy, toadflax, spiderwort, and skeleton weed.

From Literature

In May, when coyotes howl beneath an unnervingly large moon, taller plants, such as spiderworts and black-eyed Susans, begin to creep over the tinier blooms, stealing their light and water.

From The New Yorker

Wildflowers crowded my wheels: blue flax and sego lily, golden pea and spiderwort.

From New York Times

It will be more like a botanical garden, where the philodendrons, dwarf snake plants, spiderworts, nettles, and Spanish moss are to be admired, and not picnicked upon.

From The Verge