Webmaster Spiderwort: Airbrushed Purple Flowers for Damp Spots

Webmaster spiderwort has flowers that look airbrushed: warm purple at the center of each petal, shading smoothly to a soft lilac edge. At about 2 inches wide, the three-petaled blooms are large for a spiderwort, and they keep coming over a long season from late spring well into fall.

The foliage is a polished, glaucous blue-green with a waxy finish, forming a compact clump that looks good even between flushes.

Webmaster at a glance

Purple where lavender cannot grow

Lavender is the obvious purple for a sunny, dry bed. Webmaster is a purple for the places lavender cannot handle: damp ground, a rain garden, the soggy end of a border or a partly shaded woodland edge. It prefers richer, moister soil than lavender and tolerates wet spots, so it extends your purple color scheme into parts of the yard that would otherwise be off-limits.

The blue-green leaves are a good link too. They pick up the cool, silvery tone of lavender foliage, so even out of bloom the two areas look related. Pair it with Web Designer, its clear blue sister, for a blue-and-purple duo. Plan placements in the Companion Plant Planner.

Keeping it fresh all season

Spiderworts sometimes get floppy or yellow in hot, dry stretches. The fix is simple:

1. Wait until the first big flush of bloom is over, or until the foliage looks tired.
2. Cut the whole plant back by about half.
3. Water deeply.
4. Enjoy fresh leaves and a new round of flowers in a few weeks.

Steady moisture is the best way to avoid the problem in the first place.

Other care notes

• Soil: average to fertile, never bone dry.
• Pests and disease: few. Watch for slugs on young growth and occasional leaf spot in dense, shady clumps during long wet spells.
• Winter: fully hardy in Michigan. Cut foliage to the ground in late fall or early spring.

Formats offered

Webmaster is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray for growers and larger projects, and as a bare root plant for a home border. See each product page for current availability.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it bloom?

Individual flowers last about a day, but new ones keep opening from late spring well into fall.

Is it good for cutting?

Not really. Spiderwort flowers are short-lived, so enjoy them in the garden.

Keep exploring

• Webmaster Spiderwort 72-Cell Plug Tray
• Webmaster Spiderwort Bare Root Plant
• Companion Plant Library
• Companion Plant Planner