Sweet Kate Spiderwort

Name: Sweet Kate Spiderwort
Brand: Nature Hills Nursery
SKU: 12673
Price: 31.7 USD
Availability: InStock

Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate'

Nature Hills Nursery

$31⁷⁰

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In Stock

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Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Provide at least six hours of direct sun to keep the chartreuse foliage vibrant. In hotter southern zones, afternoon shade is helpful to prevent the leaves from bleaching or scorching in the intense heat.
Soil: This perennial prefers rich, organic soil that retains moisture well. If you have sandy soil that drains too quickly, mix in compost or peat moss to help hold water near the roots.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, water twice a week to ensure the root system establishes deeply. Mature plants prefer consistently moist ground and will show stress by developing brown leaf tips if the soil stays dry for too long. Maintaining even moisture is the key to keeping the golden leaves looking fresh rather than crispy during the heat of July.

Pruning Tips

Sweet Kate blooms on new growth, so you should cut the entire plant down to about three inches above the ground once the first round of flowering finishes in midsummer. Think of this like a mid-season haircut that removes the older, leggy stems and encourages a flush of tidy new foliage. This practice often triggers a second bloom cycle in the fall and keeps the plant from looking messy in your landscape.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer once in early spring as the new green shoots emerge from the soil. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this can result in weak, spindly stems that flop over. Excess nitrogen encourages rapid leaf growth at the expense of the sturdy structure needed to hold up those violet-blue flowers.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

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!

Botanical Name

Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate'
Class
- Lamiales
- Asparagales
Species

hybrid
Cultivar

Sweet Kate
Growing Zones

5-8
Height

1 ft
Width

2-3 ft
Sunlight
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color
- Blue
- Purple
Leaf Color
- Yellow
- Green
Native

Yes
Bloom Period

Late Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

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Growing Zones 5-8

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