Sweet Kate Spiderwort
Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate'
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
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Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
Under $50 | $9.99 |
$50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
$100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
$150+ | $24.99 |
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Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
#1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
#3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
#6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
#7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Sweet Kate Spiderwort highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun, Partial Shade
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Flower Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer, Fall

Growing Zones 5-8
Unlike the Elizabethan love song, this Sweet Kate will not run away and leave you plaining! The Sweet Kate Spiderwort (Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate') is a brightly colored and reliable perennial plant! This brilliant gold leaf form of Tradescantia. This new import from the UK is taking the gardening world by storm!
The brilliant golden long, arching grass-like foliage of Spiderworts looks very similar to a Daylily's. The clustered mounds quickly become highlighted with a procession of deep purple-blue flowers from late spring until fall! Sweet Kate flowers open broad and flat in the heat of the day, then wither and curl under to be replaced the next morning by a new batch of blooms! The three-petalled flowers are quickly replaced with new blooms and attract bees and butterflies!
When the stems of Spiderworts are cut, a viscous stem secretion is released which becomes threadlike and silky upon hardening, like a spider's web! That is how it got its name! Hardy perennials throughout USDA planting zones 5 to 8, these smaller plants grow just 12 inches tall but can mature 3 feet wide!
Planting and Application:
The clump-forming 'spidery' foliage is perfect as border plants along pathways and driveways, their fine-textured foliage sweeping the ground elegantly. Use as landscape bed edging and vibrant additions to Perennial and Cottage gardens!
Show off these brilliant plants for their bright foliage color by planting in rows or groupings to maximize their color! But you don't need to plant them in large drifts to enjoy their bright foliage. Spiderwort looks just as pretty as the thriller, spiller, and filler in container gardens and feature plantings alike!
Tolerating occasional wet soil, that tricky spot by the gutters or a Rain Garden are both fitting locations for these moisture-loving perennials! Brighten the shade and fill those high-moisture garden beds without worrying, Tradescantia are resilient and virtually indestructible, deer-resistant, adaptable, and long-blooming!
- Deep Purple Blue Three-Petalled Flowers
- Long Grassy Slender Bright Green-Gold Foliage
- Flowers Last One Day - Quickly Replaced With New Spring til Fall
- Pollinator-Friendly Brilliant Perennials
- Fine-Textured Edging, Specimens, Container Plants & Rain Gardens
#ProPlantTips for Care:
The golden foliage is brightest in full sun, but they tolerate partial shade as well. Any well-drained soil that is enriched and mulched to keep the roots cool is ideal for these cheerful herbaceous perennials! In drier settings provide regular moisture access and a 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch to keep the roots cool and moist.
If flowering slows, 'behead' Sweet Kate, and it will start to regrow and flower all over again! In the early spring, clean away the dead foliage from the year before. Being a vigorous grower, each plant becomes a true masterpiece!
- Partial Shade & Full Sun In Cooler Climates
- Well-Drained Rich Soil
- Moderate to Higher Moisture Needs
- Deadhead For Rebloom & Prune Early Spring
- Deer Resistant Perennials
Order the brilliant gold and deep blue power combo of this lovely and lasting perennial! Sweet Kate Spiderwort will not leave your heart's affections wanting. Order now at NatureHills.com and begin enjoying these pretty perennials today!