Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) is in the Spiderworts family (Commelinaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,841 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Ohio spiderwort: observations by month (U.S.)
About Ohio spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis, commonly known as bluejacket or Ohio spiderwort, is an herbaceous plant species in the genus Tradescantia native to eastern + central North America. It is the most common and widely distributed species of Tradescantia in the United States, where it can be found from Maine in the northeast, west to Minnesota, and south to Texas and Florida. It also has a very small distribution in Canada in extreme southern Ontario near Windsor.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Ohio spiderwort by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 597 | June | May–Jun |
| Florida | 280 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 259 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Minnesota | 105 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 74 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Ohio | 70 | June | May–Jul |
| Texas | 69 | April | Mar–May |
| Indiana | 62 | June | May–Jul |
| Missouri | 42 | May | May–May |
| Georgia | 39 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Michigan | 32 | June | May–Jul |
| Iowa | 30 | June | May–Jul |
| Mississippi | 27 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 26 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Kentucky | 24 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 17 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Alabama | 16 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 14 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 14 | June | May–Jun |
| Kansas | 10 | May | May–Jun |
| New York | 8 | June | May–Jun |
| Maryland | 5 | May | May–Jun |
| South Carolina | 5 | May | Mar–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Spiderworts)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ohio spiderwort?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to July.
Where is Ohio spiderwort most often seen?
The most observations come from Illinois, Florida, Wisconsin.