Tradescantia and. 'Osprey'

Description and Characteristics

Tradescantia andersoniana 'Osprey' is a beautiful and reliable herbaceous perennial, also known as Spiderwort 'Osprey', prized for its delicate three-petalled white flowers with striking violet-blue stamens. The flowers emerge in succession, typically lasting a single day, but the plant blooms profusely over several weeks, ensuring a continuous display throughout the early to mid-summer period.

The narrow, grass-like, arching foliage forms dense clumps, providing a soft, textural contrast in mixed borders and naturalistic planting schemes. This plant typically reaches 40–60 cm in height and spreads 40–50 cm, making it suitable for middle-border positions, cottage gardens, and wildlife-friendly beds.

Tradescantia 'Osprey' is known for its adaptability, low maintenance needs, and value as a long-season flowering plant. It also thrives in damp conditions, making it a good choice for moist borders, stream banks, and shaded garden edges.

• Produces white flowers with blue-violet centres from June to August

• Attractive, strappy green foliage forms upright mounds

• Height: 40–60 cm; Spread: 40–50 cm

• Ideal for mixed borders, cottage gardens, and moist habitats

• Great for pollinator gardens, attracting bees and hoverflies

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Tradescantia andersoniana 'Osprey' is a hardy, adaptable perennial that flourishes in sun to partial shade and moist, fertile soil. It is easy to grow and maintains a tidy shape with minimal care.

• Light Requirements:

  • Grows well in full sun to partial shade

  • Best flowering occurs in sunny or lightly shaded positions

  • In hotter climates, provide some afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch

• Soil Preferences:

  • Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil

  • Tolerates clay, loam, or sandy soil if well-prepared

  • Suitable for slightly acidic to neutral pH conditions

• Watering Needs:

  • Keep soil consistently moist, especially during flowering

  • Mulch in spring to conserve moisture and improve soil texture

  • Will tolerate short dry spells once established

• Feeding:

  • Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring to support growth and flowering

  • Avoid excessive feeding, which can cause leggy growth

• Deadheading and Pruning:

  • Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage prolonged blooming

  • Cut back to the base after flowering to promote fresh regrowth and a potential second flush

  • Divide every 2–3 years in early spring or autumn to rejuvenate clumps

• Winter Care:

  • Fully hardy in Zones 4–9 (RHS H7)

  • Foliage dies back in winter; cut back dead stems in late winter or early spring

  • No special winter protection is typically needed

Garden Uses, Companion Plants, and Pollinator Benefits

Tradescantia 'Osprey' offers long-season colour and graceful texture for a variety of garden styles. Its unique blooms and reliable growth habit make it a favourite for naturalistic, woodland, and cottage-style gardens.

• Design Applications:

  • Perfect for mixed borders, damp garden edges, or wildlife-friendly plantings

  • Suitable for underplanting shrubs, or growing near ponds and streams

  • Great in naturalistic or informal garden schemes

• Companion Plants:

  • Pairs well with Astilbe, Geranium, Alchemilla, Iris sibirica, and Hosta

  • Combines beautifully with grasses or ferns in partially shaded settings

  • Works alongside Monarda, Echinacea, or Persicaria for bold colour mixes

• Pollinator Value:

  • Flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, attracting bees, butterflies, and hoverflies

  • A valuable addition to ecological gardens and pollinator pathways

  • Provides summer food sources when many spring flowers have faded

• Container Use:

  • Can be grown in large containers with moisture-retentive compost

  • Ensure containers are not allowed to dry out in summer

  • Position in sun to part-shade, away from drying winds

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Generally pest- and disease-free

  • Occasionally affected by slugs or leaf spot, especially in humid conditions

  • Good air circulation and proper spacing help prevent issues

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.