... Worts in my garden

Spiderworts, lungworts, st. john's wort and barrenwort. Who knew worts could be so beautiful. Planted 3 barrenworts this spring, not doing so well. 1 looks dead and the other 2 are thin and have black sections on the leaves. They're in a moist, shady spot ... any suggestions?

I dug up some spiderworts from an old house hubby and I rented while building and moved them to our new house. The first year they looked pretty sad and I didn't believe they were going to make it (the deer ate all the parts that survived so there was nothing left). But, to my surprise, they came up the following spring and not only bloomed but put on new plants around the originals. This year was their third year and they bloomed almost all summer. And I agree, they are pretty. They are also hardy enough to withstand some "flower picking" by our 8 year old granddaughter. I'd leave them alone and see if they come back on their own next spring. Apparently they don't like being transplanted.

I have spiderworts, lungworts, and of course, soapworts.

The spiderworts are in the front yard, and when my sister came over, she would always say to me- " Pull those out. Those are bad weeds. They spread!!!" I kept telling her--"I planted those and I'm not pulling them out." I like them. The plant is sort of, oriental looking, to me. When they bloomed, they were such a beautiful purple-blue color !

My lungworts are in the shade, in back, where they seem to love it and they are spotted polka dots. I love the foliage. I don't even remember if they bloomed. They grow nicely next to the hostas. They really add to a shade garden.

The soapwort are small pink flowers that spread. A few years ago, I called it the year of the soapworts, because they spread over everywhere.

I agree, I love worts !!

I got carried away and forgot to add. Mine were planted in late summer and they did not look good until the next spring, so maybe they need a little time. They are not getting -too much water, are they? I know the lungwort likes the shade.

My spiderworts and lungworts are doing well, it's the barrenworts I'm having trouble with. They look sparse and the leave edges are dry and black. They look nothing like the picture on the plant tag ... wish they did. They have heart-shaped leaves and purple-lilac, starlike flowers.

Can you post a picture?

Here's a photo ... poor thing :(

Seeing the brown edges like that makes me think either too much sun/too little humidity or not enough water (none of which are that likely if you have them in a damp woodland setting), or maybe something like too much fertilizer. If it were in a container I'd also suggest salt buildup in the soil, but that's less likely in a garden. I don't grow these plants (or anything else that likes damp shade since I don't have such a thing in our climate!) so it could be something else entirely, hopefully someone with some experience with these will have some other ideas for you.

Thanks ecrane3. It's in a fairly shady, moist spot. Maybe gets about 2 hours of afternoon sun. Our summers are pretty humid here in Southeastern PA. Used Miracle grow on it when I first planted it in the spring.

Did the browning edges appear shortly after you fertilized? I don't know anything about these plants, but some plants don't really like fertilizer so if this is one that doesn't really like fertilizer that could be it. Also, if the leaf edges got like that shortly after you planted but haven't gotten any worse and haven't shown up on new growth then it could just be transplant shock. It could also be that afternoon sun is too much for it--when you have plants that like shade, they can often do OK with morning sun but afternoon sun especially if your temperatures are pretty warm can be too much for them. And how did it do on watering/rainfall this summer? If it was newly planted and then you had a relatively dry summer and didn't keep the area moist enough, that could do it too.

I seldomly fertilize my planting, any type of plants. Unless it's a slow release fertilizer since its actions is s.l.o.w and easy on the plants. Fertilizer burn is likely IMHO. I usually wait until I see new growth on my newly establishing plants before I give them fertilizer according to label.

And I have a variegated figwort. You might want that wort, too. Loves sun and, apparently, doesn't mind clay. The blossoms aren't much to talk about, but it is easily the most popular bee plant I've ever seen. They went crazy over it.

I'm not familiar with barrenworts but my spiderworts don't like any extra ferts. All they get is what decays into the ground from my mulch and they are beautiful. There are lots of plants that actually thrive on poor treatment. If it were my plant, I would clip off the worst looking leaves so the plant can channel all it's energy into the healthier ones. I think it will probably come back looking much better next spring.

The barrenwort (Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilafe') likes fertile soil, is drought tolerant, and likes partial to full shade. I have them located near astible and fern that are doing well. I just read that barrenwort are at risk from mosaic virus ... could it be, yikes!

"Mosaic virus damage first appears in the form of green leaves which look as if they are mottle or distorted. Often these leaves will also be curled upward, or appear as if their growth has been stunted. Typically these leaves will have yellowish spot on them, adding to their mottled appearance. If cucumber fruits are affected they will vary in color from light green to dark green mottled areas and some which pale to white. Affected areas of the curcurbit family plants may also be covered with warts or alternately the skins may be have faded and be very white and smooth."

Your plants don't have mosaic virus, I think it's something much more simple like a watering or fertilizing issue. Here's a picture of what the mosaic virus damage would look like, it's nothing at all like your plant http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/YGLNews/images/epimediumtrv-bel.jpg

phew! It's got to be too much or too little of something. I'll have to be more careful next year.

You're the best ecrane3!