Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Commelinaceae

Genus:

Tradescantia

Species:

Tradescantia occidentalis

USDA Symbol:

TROC

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

60 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun,Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul

Bloom Colors:

blue, purple, pink

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts from rhizomes after fire; commonly found in fire-maintained prairies and grasslands.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

thrives in open prairies and sandy plains

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate best after cold stratification. Light may improve germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI