Spiderwort: An overlooked edible (leaves stems & flowers)

[@bbrown333]

Thank you, Blanche! I'm originally for Florida and these plants were first for me a nuisance. However, I came to love them in shady spaces as they grew vigorously and bloomed for so long. They were also incredibly easy to propagate. I never knew they had edible parts, so that's delightful to know.

[@thederb720]

Many people consider them as weeds as they tend too spread quickly. They have a long growing season .

[@lorrainem8234]

I found one of these in my garden when we first moved in to our home 20 years ago. It was so cute, but I had no idea what it was. During the second year, I got wise and saved seeds from the plant. Now we have a lovely Spiderwort patch from years of scattering the seed 😍 Thank you for your videos! They are very informative and interesting.

[@thederb720]

They do tend to spread but they are so pretty, I don't mind.

[@jackieknight8694]

Once again I had no idea spiderwort could be eaten and I have a lot. In fact I have to cut some of it down so some of my other plants can get sun. Thank you for the great videos on these different plants.

[@thederb720]

This is so common around here that most people ignore it. I like to explore new uses for these common plants.

[@cpearson7372]

What a wonderful video. I enjoy your voice, Blanche :) How you share the information, concise, and with a perfect video snippet, really makes this a super easy and fun way to learn! Thank you, for your hard work, dedication to plants and flowers, and taking the time to share with us. I hope you're doing well, and that you have a super summer

[@thederb720]

Glad you enjoyed it! I try to make each video understandable and entertaining as well...

[@Blessedpb]

Thank you, Miss Blanche, I really enjoyed your vid on Spiderworts. I've not been able to find much about them until now. You are right, I have had both for and against my garden SW. Twenty years ago they reminded me of spindly weeds and I (sadly) was busy pulling them up. They didn't care - they came right back. So I mainly wished them gone but ignored them. Now in my older and maturer personage - I have come to admire them and think that they add to any garden flower patch where they decide to show themselves. Much more conscious of the lovely dance of pollination I'm developing a milk weed butterfly garden in hopes of luring some beauties in and I think the tall , spindly SW will help mightily in the effort. p

[@thederb720]

Sometimes because a plant is considered "weedy" and not sold in stores as a "Garden" plant, it's overlooked --until it keeps reappearing as if to say "Look at me! I'm beautiful too and require no work to cultivate (unlike a lot of those wanted plants)"

[@MegaDknox]

I live in Iowa and was raised on a farm. These flowers always grew in the ditch up from our farmhouse. 40 years later my mother couldn't stay on the farm by herself any longer so when we moved her I made a point of digging up alot of wild flowers from the ditch. That way I still have a part of home to enjoy like when I was a kid. I'm 54 now.

[@thederb720]

That's a good way to remember a place where you have so many fond memories of. I did the same thing when I transplanted a Clerodendron shrub to my house from my mother's cottage when it was sold and she went into a rest home. It thrives and is a living memory of her now that she's deceased...

[@williammay2332]

Bees are all over these in the morning. Expect competition when picking the flowers. The books say they get to about three feet but my tallest one this year before it got top heavy was 51".

[@thederb720]

wow--I've never seen one so big...

[@tatromain]

Thank you! What a pleasure listening to such Person! With the best wishes and deep respect.

[@thederb720]

Thank you for your positive comment.

[@chezmoi42]

Thanks, Blanche! What a beautiful video. These are strictly garden plants here - I've only seen them in the botanical garden in Tours. If I had any in the yard, I'd make a flowery salad, too. The mucilage would make the stems good for soup, giving it a nice 'cornstarch-thickened' texture, like okra. I love eating the buds of my daylilies. My Taiwanese friend buys them dried in Oriental specialty shops, so I gave her a plant.

[@thederb720]

It strange because here, they're considered a to be weeds! Daylily buds can be tricky; some people get mild stomach aches if theubeat too many of them.

[@chezmoi42]

@@thederb720 I guess they haven't had a chance to escape into nature here. Though it helps that they are a native plant chez vous. I haven't experienced or heard about any problems with consuming Hemerocallis, but since I also value their decorative qualities, I guess I use them sparingly enough.

[@dawnmorning]

Have these in front yard. Didn't know what they were. Fantastic video.

[@thederb720]

Thanks for watching and your supportive comments!

[@AdventuresOfBoxyBooAndFriends]

We live in Rockledge, Florida, a mile from the Indian River...8 miles to the Atlantic Ocean. Everywhere you look, from yards, in ditches, in fields are spider worts; a sight so beautiful and lovely to behold. We love them and love them even more now that I know how to utilize them. Thank you for such an informative post!!

[@thederb720]

They pretty hardy and seem to like all kinds of environments. I like their various colors.

[@terriejohnston8801]

I ADORE MY SPIDERWORT. Given to me for a Gift... I love how they grow.!! Organic shape... My own plants w their Blue @ white dainty flowers are so pretty.

[@thederb720]

They are so cheerful and plentiful--i love the variety of their colors.

[@asterapothecaries610]

Love your content!

[@thederb720]

I appreciate that!

[@skylovecraft2491]

Your videos deserve more subscribes and likes!! The world would be a much healthier and better place if we all learned to forage and eat the plants around us. It would slow the polluting of our planet. We should not rely so heavily on big corporations to feed us. They are killing our fragile and beautiful planet. Please continue to make these videos! Thank you so much!!

[@thederb720]

Have you watched all of my videos and commented on them ?:--) I appreciate your support. Share my channel with your friends.

[@lipsterman1]

I had a few of them in my front yard. I transplanted them to my back yard to add to my clumps I already had in the back yard. This is the first year that I have been eating them. I all of the parts to my Instant Pot with my beans. I started taking photos of "weeds" in my yard and found most are native AND edible. Free food!

[@thederb720]

isn't it great to fin surprise edibles right in your own back yard? No need to go far afield...

[@tamaliaalisjahbana6849]

What a lovely flower.And apparently delicious too.

[@thederb720]

It’s so delicate and fragile- I’m glad it shares it’s beauty with us…

[@earthwyrm6756]

My grandfather worked on the PA Railroad in the 30's. He brought some of these home to the farm because it was so pretty. He always called it the railroad plant. I have read that they are prairie plants that migrated along the railroads

[@thederb720]

Never knew about this...it was a good way for the plants to spread-- as they are now in many places...

[@katiebeach4760]

I love your voice its so easy to listen too

[@thederb720]

Thank you--some people tease me about my Boston accent...

[@Blessedpb]

I 'm not a morning person so miss much of the beautiful am hours of the garden but one morning I had to attend a "cat" comotion outside and all my Spiders were in full bloom and swaying in a lovely breeze. All over the garden was filled with bobbing purple orbs. Stunningly magical dance. I then found out that they are most beautiful in the early hours of the morning. Lately they have been falling over, should I cut them back? If so, how far? Thanks for your expertise. Blessings, p

[@thederb720]

Their flowers are delicate and don't last long but there are so many of them that the spent ones are quickly replaced. I think if you cut them down, they'll send up new shoots--try it with 1 or 2 plants to see if that happens.

[@NYPaulaS]

I have this plant! Again I learned something new from you! Thank you!

[@thederb720]

I'm glad! It's fun to try new tastes

[@hylia69]

This might be growing around the garden here, just haven't seen flowers yet. Do the edges get sharp when they grow older? It has been growing for about one year now. May just have to wait. I'm hoping this may be the plant.

[@thederb720]

The leaves are somewhat pointy--if you wait til it flowers it'll be easier to id it.

[@quamaniqunnuk8226]

5:38 for 🤣 do you know any southern or southwestern texas version of your channel?

[@thederb720]

Yes: Mark"Merriwether's"site: foragingtexas.com -- also his Facebook channel is informative. He's written a book and leads tours as well. Good luck.

[@aui4225]

I love your videos, greetings from Spain!! 🙂😁

[@thederb720]

So pleased that I reached you & that you enjoy my vids!

[@sammysworld5485]

I recently got some Concord Grape Spiderwort from my local garden & planted them in my front bed. They literally grew twice their size & very tall. I just hate when they completely break & flop over leaving a thick gooey clear sap. I had to tie them up. Or should I just cut to the ground. They are still blooming. Is this normal?

[@thederb720]

These might be cultivars which are bred to be bigger, better and bolder--not like the wild ones which are smaller and less leggy. I think you can cut yours down and they'll send up new growth (maybe that won't be as tall?.)

[@jimmiller6704]

After flowering they don't look so good, what should come up after the flowers are done?

[@thederb720]

They develop seeds-- but often people cut off the dead flowers and sometimes new ones appear.

[@juliavanover3392]

Can you tell me how to make a healing salve out of spiderwart?

[@thederb720]

I don't make salves. If you google howe to make a salve you'll probably get a general idea how to do it. I believe It involves beeswax that needs to be melted--not sure. Good luck!

[@ihoff440]

Im in north Carolina. Do the spiderwort grow here?

[@thederb720]

the species T.virginiana is native to eastern & central US and the the Raleigh area of NC? I'm not sure--perhaps check with a nature center near you?

[@natureguyx46presents7]

What is the taste of the flowers?

[@thederb720]

Very mild, not strong at all.

[@Williamdavid-rl9bf]

I have tons of it and it’s pretty

[@thederb720]

They do tend to spread but yes, the flowers are lovely.

[@CampingforCool41]

I never knew spiderwort was edible. I always used to pluck the petals and squish them between my fingers because they were so juicy

[@thederb720]

Yes, they sure are squishy; that's why I'm glad I have the flowers nearby so they won't wilt from me having to carry them long distances.

[@MONEAL88]

I literally just noticed these in my backyard 😍 I’m afraid to try them but what the heck I’m doing it!!!!

[@thederb720]

Just take a few to see if you like them but don't eat a whole lot at once--check to see how your body reacts...

[@ferferiify]

Love love 😊💖💖

[@thederb720]

Thank you...

[@Theleaddog]

My mom tried and tried to kill these. She viewed them as pesky and invasive. I think they are beautiful! I spend so much money on plants like these that have a grass like appearance and tiny occasional flowers. She told me her story and immediately, I went and dug them up. I transplanted them in my yard. I have this hard to mow/weed wack so I landscaped it. I am looking for plants that will spread out and cover this area. I am especially excited about the edible and medicinal properties of this plant too. Did I say this plant is beautiful?

[@thederb720]

Yes these are beautiful and maybe your mom will grow to appreciate them --now that they're not in her garden.