Description

Soil: Hydric(Wet) to Mesic (Medium) Sun: Full to Part Height: 6″-18″ Color: Purple Blooms: May-July Flowers: The 1″-2″ flowers have 3 petals, 3 sepals, 6 yellow stamens. Leaves: The leaves are about 15″ long, linear and folded lengthwise.

Suggested Uses:

This is a useful plant for shoreline restoration and rain gardens. Its showy purple flowers open in the morning and close around midday. The individual flowers last only one day.  

Interesting Facts

Food Uses: The young leaves and stems can be eaten in salad or cooked. The flowers can be eaten like candy. Carefully wet and dry the flowers, brush with beaten egg white, sprinkle with sugar, and let dry. Other Uses: Used to detect radiation. Stamen hairs turn pink if exposed to radiation. The Lakota made a jelly-like blue paint from the flowers. Name: Named for John Tradescant – Royal gardener for King Charles I.