Other Names:  White Velvet, White Gossamer Plant

Description:

This evergreen, erect perennial is predominantly grown for its foliage; olive to gray-green leaves are densely covered with silver-white, woolly hairs; small bright purple-pink flowers appear in summer; a distinctive groundcover or container accent

Ornamental Features

Cobweb Spiderwort features dainty fuchsia flowers with gold anthers at the ends of the stems from early to mid summer, which emerge from distinctive ruby-red flower buds. Its attractive tomentose oval leaves emerge olive green in spring, turning grayish green in color with hints of silver the rest of the year.

Landscape Attributes

Cobweb Spiderwort is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Cobweb Spiderwort is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting
• Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

Cobweb Spiderwort will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by cuttings.

Cobweb Spiderwort is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.