Wildflower Wednesday: Spiderwort

I love my garden in the early morning. Once the sun has made it past the trees, it begins to spot light the shadier garden nooks.

Spiderworts look their best in that cool morning sun. The sun light makes those feathery violet hairs glow. Later in the day they're washed out by the hot, bright light, but that is the case for many delicate flowers.

Spiderwort is ephemeral - its flowers stay open only one day.

Tradescantia  virginiana like all members of the dayflower/Commelinaceae family is ephemeral - its flowers stay open only one day (half day if sited in full sun), but, it continues blooming for a long time. The leaves are strappy, with pointed tips. Each has a channel (which looks like the perfect place to fold it) and is bright green with a dark green midvein and visible parallel veins.

Cultivars are now offered with, blue-green, chartreuse, or yellow leaves. I love the species plants and usually prefer them to cultivars, but, in this case, I say, go ahead and add whatever spiderwort cultivars you want to your garden. They all attract pollinators and for me, that's important...but, so is beauty! Just take a look a 'Kate' in the photo below. She's a beauty in chartreuse leaves and those purple flower pops against them.

'Kate' a cultivar same flowers prettier leaves

In my garden, spiderwort's arching stems are usually 2 to 3 foot tall and the clumps are never wider than 2 feet. The plant hasn't spread aggressively beyond their original plantings, but then C and L doesn't have rich, moist soil, which would encourage it to misbehave. They are known to spread by seed and if any seeds sprout where you don't want them,  they're best dug out when young, before a thick, fibrous root can develop in the middle of one of your prize ornamental plants.

There seem to be two explanations of the origin of the common name: either from the sticky secretion exuded from cut or broken stems, which hardens into web-like threads or from from the angular placements of its leaves, which suggests a sitting spider. The sitting spider is a new one to me, but certainly got me on my hands and knees checking out the flowers.

It's a fabulous garden worthy plant, but it is not without its detractors!

striking purplish blue flowers with three petals, 6 yellow stamens and the most exquisite spidery violet hairs.

Perhaps it those detractors and their negative reviews of spiderwort that keep it from being in more wildflower gardens. I have often been asked to recommend plants for native/wildflower gardens and when I suggest Spiderwort, I inevitably hear, a list of negative statements. "It's too weedy." It's unruly. "It's aggressive." "It's too floppy and messy."

It can be unruly in the right circumstances and once the big bloom period passes, it is a whole lot of plant and no flower!

In my eyes it's still a garden worthy plant. I garden for wildlife and this plant always has bumbles and smaller critters visiting it. I appreciate the delicate flowers in vibrant purples, blues, pinks and even white. They are delightful in a shady garden. When the narrow, strap like leaves start to look ratty, and they do by July, I cut them back. I am rewarded with fresh growth and occasionally more blooms. Cutting back spiderwort will also curb rampant reseeding.

a white flower  from several years ago with a visiting hoverfly

Spiderworts might not belong in a formal garden, but, they are certainly at their best in a woodland or cottage garden where they mingle nicely with native geraniums, Carex, Heucheras and foamflowers. I like to let them duke it out with colonizing plants like River oats and false dragonhead. Btw, False dragonhead is winning.

Geranium maculatum 'Espresso' with 'Kate'

Spiderworts are pollinated by bumbles and that makes me really happy. Beautiful and unique flowers that are not terribly temperamental about soil; that come in a kaleidoscopic palette of sumptuous colors; bushy plant that helps fill bare areas and mixes well in layered plantings; and, easy care, make this plant attractive to me.

If you can deal with a thuggish, tall, strappy, grass like plant when out of bloom; that is more plant than blooms, and; one that declines in the heat of summer; then, this is a plant for you. If you don't want to plant it in the garden, why not plant it in a container. You can move it out of the way when it stops blooming, cut the floppy stems back and wait to bring it back out when the cooler fall weather brings on the second flush of blooms.

I hope I've made a good case for Tradescantia virginiana! I want to be honest and not mislead you! Let me know what your experiences have been.

Thanks,
gailxoxo

The particulars

Tradescantia virginiana aka Spiderwort
Type: Perennial
Size: Usually around 2 feet tall, may get taller
Leaf: Green, blue green. Cultivars offer more color including lime green.
Bloom Color: Blue, purple, pinks and white. Cultivars may cross and create a lovely palette of colors
Bloom Time: March through June. May rebloom in fall.
Native Distribution: A Central basin native plant. Eastern half of the US and Canada. W. CT to WI, s. to GA, TN & e. MO 
Native Habitat: Meadows; open woods; limestone outcrops
Water Use: Low when established, prefers moist soil
Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Soil  Description: Very adaptable plant prefers humus-rich soil, but will grow in a wide range of soils: moist/dry, clay/sand, acid/alkaline.
Wildlife: Attracts bees. Pollinated by bumblebees.  Butterfly nectar source.
Comments: Juglones tolerant. POISONOUS PARTS: Leaves. A good ornamental in the garden. Attractive seasonal color for a shady or sunny area. Plant looks good with Heucheras, foam flowers and other native plants. Probably best in naturalistic plantings, woodland and shady gardens. To keep plants looking healthy, cut them back in late summer (or when they appear to stop blooming). Spiderwort spreads easily, but if kept under control, it can be used as a border plant. It is striking in mass when in bloom.



Welcome to Wildflower Wednesday and thank you for stopping by to see Tradescantia virginiana, a sweet wildflower that I think has gotten a bad rap! Thanks also, for joining in and if you are new to Wildflower Wednesday, it's about sharing and celebrating wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if your wildflower is in bloom or not and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants. Please leave a comment when you add your url to Mr Linky.



Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.

Hoverfly Magic

You might have seen hoverflies in your garden hovering and darting about while feeding at flower blossoms. Hoverflies have a unique ability to hover, suspended in midair like miniature helicopters! They can also fly back wards. 

Toxomerus geminatuson Phytolacca americana*

These remarkable little critters have evolved to mimic the characteristics of bees and wasps to keep birds and other prey from eating them. Humans see the yellow and black stripes and stay away, too. However, they are all stripes and no sting! It's safe to take a closer look at these incredible creatures. Once you get closer to them you can see that those warning stripes are actually a beautifully designed pattern.

resting on Gaura lindheimeri

When not hovering or darting about they can be seen resting on leaves and petals of plants. That's one of the best times to get a photo. I take dozens of shots to get one that highlight their characteristics. The above photo is one of my favorites and it clearly shows the hoverfly's characteristic short antenna. If I didn't know before that this wasn't a bee I would know now, flies have stubby little antennas! (more on them at We can't all be pretty pollinators)

Hoverflies are important pollinators, but, when you look closely at them you can see they have neither a pollen basket like the bumblebee or pollen attracting hairy legs of the honeybee. They have no nest to tend and are not responsible for feeding their larvae, instead, they lay their eggs near a good food source and let nature take its course. The next time you spot an aphid colony and reach for the hose, stop  and check to see if there is a small slug like critter in the midst of the colony, that would be a hoverfly larva. A good hoverfly population can control 70% or more of the aphids in a garden.

Hoverflies have only one set of exquisite wings

The next time you're in the garden look for small hovering and darting critters, note the yellow and black warning stripes; enormous eyes; stubby antenae; and, a single pair of exquisite wings.  

Be glad they've taken up residence, you're doing the right things for them and they're doing the right things for your garden!

Of course you all know the one of the very best things you can do for pollinators is to never, ever, ever, ever , I mean never, use pesticides!

xoxogail

* found in Eastern Canada south to Texas 

Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.

Peachie's Pick Stokesia

Although, Stokesia laevis is not native to the Central Basin or for that matter to Tennessee, it is one of my favorite wildflowers. I fell in love with 'Peachie's Pick' the first time I saw the fluffy lilac blue flowers in full bloom and it's by far the best Stokes aster for good looks.

It's blooming in my garden right now, just in time to mingle with the day lilies and the phloxes.

Peachie's Pick' Stokesia is an evergreen perennial with a luscious lavender-blue cornflower like flower, that blooms for a long time and mixes well with other wildflowers.

It is also a great plant to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects to your native garden. Studies have shown that Stokes Aster attracted 4 times the number of honeybees; bumblebees; native bees (including Halictid bees); flies; butterflies, moths & skippers; beetles and wasps than other native plants. That's great news for gardeners in Southeastern states who are committed to creating a habitat for native pollinators. It's good news for any of us who are committed to providing a habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. I find that studies like this one conducted in Georgia reinforce how important native plants are to habitat restoration and creation.

 I don't mind mixing a few plants from other regions to the Central mix at Clay and Limestone. Stokesia, unlike some exotics that are merely pretty faces in a garden, is a major butterfly, Bumblebee, hoverfly and beetle attractor.

Skippers love Stokesia!

My dear readers, you don't have to garden in the Southeastern US to grow 'Peachie's Pick'. It will be happy in your Zone5 to Zone9 gardens if you treat it right! Just remember, it needs good drainage, even moisture and a decent amount of sun. Don't even think about planting it in heavy clay soil that hasn't been amended to improve drainage or it will disappear on you in a season. Those of you further north be sure to mulch it for the winter...but remember, wet winters and poor drainage are the kiss of death for this pretty. Trust me, I've lost many a stokesia to winter drowning.

In my book, it's another practically perfect plant for your garden.

xoxogail

PS This beauty was originally found growing in Peachie Saxon's Mississippi garden many years ago and she generously shared it with the gardening world!

Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.

A Splendid Creature For Your Garden

The Hover Fly (family Syrphidae)We want this bug in our gardens! Their offspring consume the nasty little soft bodied creatures that want to suck the life out of our beautiful fruits, veggies and flowers. They are also, extremely important pollinators. With over 900 species in the US and over 15 genera around the globe, there's bound to be a few in your garden~Almost all have black and yellow bands on their abdomens which confuses them with bees and wasps....A survival technique that works well for them!

They might buzz us, but they are harmless. Many of the larvae of the species sup on the nasty little aphids in our gardens! The female lays her eggs near an aphid colony and when they hatch~they start dining. I recommend that you visit a site so you can id them and not think the ugly little slug shaped maggot is bad...I know that when I see something maggot like my first thought is "Yuck!" and my second is "Get the hose and wash it off!". So go here. Almost all have a telltale yellow longitudinal stripe on their backs, so you'll be able to id them as keepers!


When you see these lovely bee and wasp mimics hovering above the flowers you'll know they are good little bugs~ The ones in my garden are very small! I love watching them hover and dart about. Don't be alarmed if one buzzes noisily around your head~It could be the Yellow Jacket Hover Fly~ sometimes called the news bee or good news bee for its habit of hovering in front of a person and “giving them the news”.
The Hover or Flower Fly in my garden have been seen on Queen Anne's Lace, dill, Spiderworts, Hypericum, the weedy Asian Dayflower, roses, dayliles, stokesia, goldenrods, daisies, asters~You know, I've seen them hovering around almost all the flowers in the garden throughout the growing season!

"At this time none of the Hover Flies are on U.S. Endangered Species Act lists, although this may simply be because there is a lack of information on these generally understudied pollinators. In Britain, however, seven of the twenty-two flies for which Biodiversity Action Plans have been prepared are hover flies."** Even though none are listed here~we can create a garden that provides them flowers and appropriate egg laying sites and a safe place for larvae to live. So we have to put down the hose and not get freaked out when we see slug like maggots~~until we know if they be good or bad bugs. I probably don't have to remind you, pesticides are toxic to pollinators.


I'll be sharing information about pollinators over the next few weeks as a lead up to Pollinator Partnership Week, June 21-27, 2010. The last week of June is the official celebration and recognition of the importance of pollinators to our world...Please, stop by their site to get more information.

Gail

**sited