Is spiderwort supposed to do this????

Hi all: planted two spiderworts for the first time this summer (Tradescantia 'Pauline'), supposedly identical, and they did look exactly alike for awhile, but then one went absolutely crazy, grew to almost three feet, had these bizarre-looking (but interesting) stiff shafts of something or other coming out everywhere! It all flopped over (from the weight I guess???) Then I wondered: is this thing supposed to creep along or something? And how come the other one didn't do that?? I have since looked it up on the plant files here, and though I haven't found 'Pauline', I have found things that look close enough. According to the plant card that came with it, it should only get to about 2 feet, but this one is closer to three feet. I've had to cut it down to nothing because it looked like hell all flopped over like that. The flowers certainly didn't get very big, though the numerous clusters were rather pretty. I'm attaching pictures (after I cut it all apart), in case anyone can enlighten me as to what happened and/or if this is normal???

You've got two plants there - spiderwort on the right and a grass on the left. the spiderwort looks normal to me - it is a very messy plant and will get much bigger than 2 feet. Mine are always all over the place.

As soon as spiderwort finishes blooming, I cut it off almost to the ground. That way I don't have to watch the foliage fade and look awful, and the new growth will often bloom in the fall.

It will spread, too. I had a clump planted behind a nice sized batch of dianthus, and now it's sprouting up all IN my dianthus. I'm moving that outta there to someplace I don't have to constantly try to pick it out of!
Gail

It's one of those things that will be all over your garden unless you're really careful about keeping it contained.

mgmama, don't you find that cutting it back causes it to grow more underground and spread worse? I've tried that a few times but it seemed to me like when I cut it back, next thing you know I've got new sprouts all around and out from the main clump. It DOES look better, though.
G

Cut it back when it finishes blooming? One of mine has bloomed from early summer and is still putting them out.... it's about 1.5 feet tall and a dark blue. I have another one, violet flowers, that flopped onto the ground after a few weeks of bloom. I'll cut that one back, now. Does anyone know if spiderwort makes seeds?


Eileen

This message was edited Sep 5, 2005 6:44 PM

Some people may think I'm crazy, but when I "cut" mine back, I grab a handfull of the stalks and rip them off by hand!! These plants are VERY tough and the stalks will break right off, and before you know it, you've got another batch of stalks coming up.

I'm sure somebody has a more "acceptable" way of doing it, though.

Gail

This message was edited Sep 5, 2005 6:44 PM

I don't have the slightest idea what the name is... I got a start of it from a lady in town about 5 or 6 years ago, before I thought I'd care about names. I've got a pic, though.....

BTW, stimmins, my Treasury of Gardening book describes them as "weak stemmed" and says they "want a good, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. In dry summers, they will need extra water. In too-rich soil, they grow quickly and tumble about. Even the newest types can become floppy by midsummer-so when flowering is through, cut the plants to the ground, and they will often flower again". In the propagation section, it states "By division in spring or by seed" so it must make them, but I've never noticed them. Additionally, it lists Tradescantia virginiana as the original species and says it is still found in many old country gardens. It must be the one I have, because it says the flowers are violet-purple and that it's often VERY FLOPPY. Under "Uses" it says they are fine in a sunny border, but that newer ones are "best in areas of open shade, especially under tall trees."

Hope this helps...
Gail

Thanks for the info!

This message was edited Sep 5, 2005 6:45 PM

LMAO... crabgrass...
Mine is in a bed beside my front porch at the back, and every once in a while I'll see an open bloom in the afternoon/evening, but mostly in the early day. I've got some new ones I got at ButterflyChaser's plant swap back in May in my backyard garden that are supposed to be different colors but I haven't seen them bloom yet. They probably are, but I've been too busy pulling weeds and watering to see them. I really don't care for them that much. Mine are usually messy looking.

Stimmins, what have you done about your "grassy" thing? Has it turned out to be a separate "plant" that you've pulled or is it really attached to your sp'wort? You know, you probably won't have the "overgrowth" problem where you are. As a matter of fact, I'm the lowest zone on this thread, so mine is probably more aggressive than y'alls... (had to throw in a "southern" word! lol)

Gail

gail I'm so glad that y'all got a good laugh at my goofy. lol I don't really care for them much either, what do you think stimmins?

LOL, no harm, no foul. Crab grass, that's not an ornamental???? o, well.

I guess if you let it be, that sooner or later it would be a tall, pampas grass looking thing... lmao... but I think I'll let somebody else try that.
Gail