Garden Mystery: What is It?
by
Rosi McCoy
+24
My husband is famous for digging up plants from around the public boatyard (no, it is not illegal) and depositing them in our garden. And we get surprises the next year: this is one of them. It's very pretty, but we have no clue what it is! Can someone help us out?
My mystery flower.
My mystery flower.
27 answers
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It sure is! Thanks so much.
Rosi McCoy
on Aug 02, 2013
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It's spiderwort! I have the same one in my garden and it comes up every year with pretty purple flowers.
Porta Verde Studio
on Aug 02, 2013
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Yes,and keep an eye for seedlings. They can really get going.
Sensible Gardening and Living
on Aug 03, 2013
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Sensible Gardening, What do you mean by "they can really get going"? In a good or bad way?
Rosi McCoy
on Aug 03, 2013
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My daughter planted this in her front garden 4 years ago. It spread all over killing many much wanted flowering plants. Be careful!
Donna Steward
on Aug 04, 2013
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It is a spiderwort and if it is planted in the sun the flowers will bloom a deep purple and the leaves will become a lemon lime color its very pretty
Laura
on Aug 04, 2013
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Yes, it's spiderwort - beautiful blue! Here's a closeup of the one I planted last year - I moved to a new place - now it's in a pot and not liking it so much..........It has some value as a medicinal plant: the roots can be used as a laxative and to treat some kidney, stomach and "women's" conditions. Apply leaf poultice to stings and insect bites. Also very interesting: spiderwort has been shown to be an accurate instrument in detecting radiation and chemical pollution - the normally blue stamen hairs turn pink.
NancyLee
on Aug 04, 2013
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It will spread but it is easy to pull up if you don't want so many. It can fill a bed if you let it - which isn't a bad thing especially on a hill or near a road.
Gretchen
on Aug 04, 2013
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Yes it comes in many colors too...I have pinks,purples blue and a deep fushia.
Teresa Kessler
on Aug 04, 2013
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The type of Spider Wort pictured does not spread but the clump will get larger over time. Then you can break it up into several plants like you would a Hosta. There is a smaller wild version with little blue flowers that spreads like crazy! www.glenviewgardeners.org
Judith O
on Aug 04, 2013
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is your maroon/burgundy plant at the rear of the photo a beefsteak plant? Looks very similar to the young plants in early summer... I love them for contrast... They get nice and tall in the sun and their seeds sprout every year... So I stragically place the sprouts each spring.
Anne Tighe
on Aug 04, 2013
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Anne, I think it's a coleus. I had a couple of them in the garden a few years ago and unfortunately one of them went to seed before I got to it. They are going to town, but none of them are flowering or going to seed. I like the way they look in the back of the garden also.l
Rosi McCoy
on Aug 04, 2013
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def spiderwort. I have several of them. They dont spread per se but do get quite large clumps which you can divide either spring or fall.
Glenna Kennedy
on Aug 04, 2013
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Thanks everyone for your help. I love how the people here on Hometalk are always ready to help with advice and ideas. We have a great community!!!
Rosi McCoy
on Aug 04, 2013
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AKA Widow's Tears...I have some growing in my beds. When the clumps get too large I just divide them & share with friends.
Judy
on Aug 04, 2013
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OMG Judy, that is so funny, cause I almost bought Widow's Tears seeds this summer!!!
Rosi McCoy
on Aug 04, 2013
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I have the same one, has been growing and blooming in part shade for years. Doesn't spread.
Patty A
on Aug 04, 2013
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I have the same , it is called ( amethyest kiss spiderwort ). And they are just beautiful.
Faye
on Aug 05, 2013
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The friend who gave me mine called it Widow's Tears but she also gave me some "Bluebells" that turned out to be Bellflower so I'd be looking at the picture on the seed packet...lol
Judy
on Aug 05, 2013
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Judy, I did go back and look at the picture on the package. Yup, same thing!!! Just didn't realize that I had been looking at the same flowers a few months before.... Senior Moments.
Rosi McCoy
on Aug 05, 2013
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If it doesn't spread then what in the world do I have? It looks just like this and I can't pull it out before it comes back someplace else. The flowers start out blue and change in color as they get older. So maybe it is something else? If it doesn't spread then I should be able to got rid of it. Would it grow back from a bit of root, if it was left in?
Gretchen
on Aug 06, 2013
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Good questions Gretchen. I am sure you will get your answers here!!
Rosi McCoy
on Aug 06, 2013
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spiderwort will get quite big if not divided so may look like it is spreading There is more than one variety I think. I just dig the huge clumps up and break them into smaller clumps and replant.
Glenna Kennedy
on Aug 06, 2013
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Rosi, sometimes a picture is not worth 1,000 words I guess...lol @Gretchen, Spiderwort flowers only last 1 or 2 days. There should be a cluster of buds at the end of the stalk with only 1 or 2 opening each day & wilting in a day or two. If your blooms last longer than that & it spreads badly my guess is that you have something else. The picture here shows the bud cluster really well: http://www.ediblewildfood.com/spiderwort.aspx
Judy
on Aug 06, 2013
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Rosi, this is indeed a picture of a spiderwort. Spiderwort cultivars do self seed a lot if the conditons are right. They do not spread by runners but form a nice clump which can be divided if you wish. If you get lots of seedlings get them while they are young, an easy pull. Later on, not so easy. Sorry to take so long getting back to you:)
Sensible Gardening and Living
on Aug 06, 2013
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yep, spiderwort
Candace
on Aug 14, 2013
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Tradescantia/spiderwort. I have 4 different colors and look for more. This is one of the more common colors. There's a nice dark pink fuscia, dark purple and blue. The only thing I don't like about them is that they get ugly after flowering is done.
Peg
on Aug 14, 2013
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