Tradescantia rosea 'Morning Grace' (photo supplied by North Creek Nurseries)

Morning Grace spiderwort (Tradescantia rosea ‘Morning Grace’) is a short growing spiderwort native from Maryland south to Florida. Its small size and clumping nature makes it a wonderful rock garden plant. It grows into 8″ tall x 8″ wide clump of narrow medium green leaves. At first glance this spiderwort’s foliage appears very grass-like.

Morning Grace has a long flowering period from May thru August in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Tiny triangular 3- petalled pink flowers stand just above the foliage.  The blooms open early in the morning and close late in the afternoon. The lightly fragrant flowers attract numerous pollinating insects. Spiderwort is not troubled by deer.

Unlike the commonly grown spiderworts (T. virginiana), Morning Grace is far less aggressive and is welcome into my garden over other spiderworts which frankly become a weedy nuisance.

Spiderwort prefers a moist, rich, acidic soils in part shade, not in full sun or deep shade. It grows and flowers poorly in dry shade.

At a recent perennial plant show Morning Grace attracted rave interest. Attendees spotted tiny pink blooms and they liked to brush the slender foliage.

Tradescantia ‘Morning Grace’ was selected by Michael Jenkins.