Pretty! I'm new to the plant and planted a couple of them last week. So far so good. I just wish they'd stay in bloom all day!

Do these plants spread?

oakleyok, each year my clumps increase in size but wouldn't call them spreaders. I leave them 3 or 4 years before I divide them.

Annette

Wow Annette ~ That is a beauty. How many different kinds do you have? I haven't seen different ones down here, but of course, these days I'm not looking either. Great photography by the way.

I love mine and they do spread. I don't have a clue as to what the name of mine is. Here is a picture of it so maybe you can tell me the name.

Happy Gardening ~ FlowerLady

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Oh, those are lovely pics! I have the dark purple variety, forget the name. I really need to find some of these you and flowerlady have posted.

Annette, I have no will power either when I fall in love with a plant. Besides, that plant NEEDED a good home. : )

Diana

That is a perfect name for that color!

My two have reached the hot weather floppy stage to have come down to the ground, but I did enjoy them for a couple of months.

Move over Blueberry Sundae, I think you've just been nudged out of first place. Rainey yours is GORGEOUS, not only the beautiful sky blue color, look at the color of the flower stem and buds. No I don't know the name of yours I wish I did I'd be doing a search for it right this minute. Do you think yours is a Florida native? Does it produce viable seed :o).

Diana ~ so glad to see you posting again you have been missed. Seems I'm not alone with the willpower thingy, somehow that makes me feel so much better. Looking forward to see more pix of your beautiful garden.

Annette

Oooooo ... Annette, you grow the coolest plants. Love the color and the fuzzy center.

That flower needs another name - too pretty to be called spiderwort! I'm sure you will give it a good home. :)

Annette ~ I think yours is luscious. I just did a quick Google search and came up with Tradescantia ohiensis, zones 5-10. I didn't know it set seeds. I've not seen seed pods, of course, I've not really looked either. Now I'm intrigued. This is such an easy plant to grow and it makes me feel happy. Some people hate it and call it a weed.

I agree, Diana, you have been missed.

FlowerLady

I love tradescantia. I have only one right now as I just this spring finally got around to planting one here. I grew them at a previous house and gave friends some of those. One friend recently called me and asked if I remembered what I had planted as companions. No, I don't remember 10 years later! :-)

Cameron

I'm going to have to remember the blue one's for next year! Blue has become one of my favorite colors in the garden. Those are stunning! Here's mine, but they're pink. These are thriving in the Oklahoma heat. And I had never heard of them until I bought them! lol

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If you would like to learn how they got their name and about the man for whom the name Tradescantia is derived read "Virgin Earth" by Phillipa Gregory. It'a a fascinating story about the man who first cataloged this and many other plants that are native to North America. It's one of the few books that I have read more than once. And I loved the story. Cheryl

I only have several varieties ~ Osprey, Sweet Kate, Rondeau Sapphire (both double and single flowers on same plant), I think Zwanenburg Blue and the new one Blueberry Sundae.
I have this narrow strip about a foot wide down our gravel driveway, it is also against our neighbors concrete carport, it's full of crocus bulbs which look great in the spring.
Last year I planted Sweet Kate, it's loving it there so I think I'll move the others I have there, should be pretty when the're all blooming. I see Hortico has quite a list of Tradescantias so I think I'll order a few more to help fill up this little border.
I've ordered from them in the past with pretty good results.
Lets see I need a red, a pink, a pure white, a good purple, a pale blue :o).

Annette

Lovely! I have the purple and dark pink variety :)

Belinda

Annette,
That is such a great close up of a very pretty flower! I have difficulty trying to take pics of my 'Billberry Ice'. They either come out blurry or too washed out.
I can not find info on your 'Rondeau Sapphire'.
'Sweet Kate' which I also have is a keeper.

Flowerlady,
That is one pretty blue.

Oakleyok,
I've got a pink too. I really like the bright pink.

Here's a pic of my Billberry Ice.
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Remy

Remy, Billberry Ice is very pretty looks to be a little more on the mauve side, already on my want list :o).
The narrow little border down one side of our driveway I find is the ideal spot for Tradescantias, I plunked Sweet Kate there last year and it's thriving so I'm going to move the other ones I have there, along with a few more.
I don't think you'll find any info on Rondeau Sapphire anywhere, it was an introduction of Sterling Perennials (ONT) some time ago, they are no longer in business a shame because they sent top notch plants always arriving in excellent condition. Rondeau Sapphire puts out both double and single flowers if you haven't seen it there's a picture of mine in this other thread, scroll down to find it.

Annette

Here is a link that might be useful: Spiderwort - Need Advice

Okay, this is a stupid question. :) Can I count on Spiderwort to come back next year? Zone 7, central OK. My Daylily's come back, but if Spiderwort is a perennial, then I'm buying more tomorrow!

I've got them on the side of the house with the 4 o'clocks, and it's great because when the SW close in the afternoon, the 4'O's open.

You should have no trouble at all growing them in Zone 7 they are very hardy. I think they will grow in Zone 4 maybe lower.

Annette

Annette,
That is a really cool looking double! That thread also reminded me I planted Osprey last year somewhere. It might have died, but it would help if I remembered where I put it, lol.
Remy

Annette,
I just had to post. I found Osprey. Your not going to believe where...in the bed along the front walk to the front porch, Lol.
Remy

LOL, doesn't it just pick you when you know you've got a plant, you search and search and then you find it right under your nose. That seems to be the name of the game with me. Right now I'm looking for the pot of Campanula seedling I've misplaced.
I picked up a couple more spiderworts last week 'Red Cloud' and the pure white 'Innocence' last week. I haven't found 'Billberry Ice' yet but will keep looking for that plus a good pink and purple. These are such easy care perennials, they pretty much take care of themselves.

Annette

I also love this plant - it was one of my favorites at my old house because it was just so reliable every year and yet really delicate looking. When we flooded, the city bought our house and tore it down, and I was sure all the spiderwort was gone. But, we just drove by the empty lot the other day and I noticed a *little* of it is still there. Meanwhile, I picked up two containers of the purple variety on sale. They bloomed for quite a few hours a day when I had them still in their pots, then planted them in "mostly" shade, and now they are only open a few hours in the morning. I may yet move them to a slightly sunnier spot, but for now I'm glad to have them in the ground and just to have them around again!

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Those are all such pretty types of Spiderwort. I had no idea there were so many different kinds. I will have to keep my eyes open for more. The 2 Sweet Kate that I planted in shade are quite happy but have not bloomed again since we are so droughty and upper 90's every day. I would flop too LOL. c