Spiderwort - Not Just Another Pretty Wildflower

[@ChristopherAustin-vj9uu]

I’ve been trying to find some of this for my garden In Michigan but I can’t find any stores that sell it

[@googiesfairyfarm4834]

Years ago my aunt gave my mother a small clump of spiderwort that someone had given her a few years before. She didn’t know what it was as it doesn’t grow wild here that I know of, but it’s pretty so she shared it. We planted it by the fencepost and the clump grew quite large. I decided once to transplant it down the fence line. It survived for a while but began slowly dying off. When I finally decided to dig it up last year and put it in a pot I only found ONE solitary little plant. I potted it up and in one year’s time I now have a pot full of it. I have also discovered that it roots very easily in water from cuttings or even broken flowers. I love it but I had no idea it was edible OR medicinal... Great to know!

[@GrammaRosesHomestead]

That's why this is one of my favorite flowers!! I'm glad you learned something new. That's always a good thing.

[@susanthomas8645]

I know that the sap in the stem will act like aloe vera on bites and burns and you can keep it for a few days after breaking off plant as it seals the end so you can reuse it.

[@GRINGAperoLATINA]

Thank you, good to know!

[@WindmillFarm]

Should come over and see my sitting in the shade. It’s good for spider bites, it is also good for eating! It will also dye fiber and can be used for watercolor.

[@GrammaRosesHomestead]

I need to come over! You're not that far from me. I forgot about it being a dye plant. Somehow I lost the last of the video - I think my phone ate it. LOL Anyway, I had blue juice all over my hands from reaching in looking for pretty flowers and did mention that it was used as a dye plant. When I re-recorded, I forgot that. So watercolor too! Cool. I read that the young leaves and shoots were tasty and that the stems tasted sort of like asparagus, but that the old leaves weren't as good to eat. What parts do you eat?

[@teresacollingwood]

Thank you for this information. This plant is growing across the street around a tree. It has been there since before we moved to this property. I am going to see if I can get a start of them. BTW, I've had the elderberry that you sent to me in water and it's doing great. I will be planting it out this week. Will be making a video of the process.

[@GrammaRosesHomestead]

If the clump has been there for a while, you should be able to get a division. Do it soon though, since it flowers late spring/early summer. Great on the elderberry!

[@debram9893]

Love the history of this plant.🌸

[@pattigsbh4392]

As always I'm learning new things from you. I have been admiring these everywhere right now and want to get some. I'm aiming to get rid of grass and plant all useful plants 😁❤

[@GrammaRosesHomestead]

I want to do the same thing. Aren't these flowers beautiful along the roads, and people pay $4.95 for a 4" pot at a nursery for a named variety.

[@pattigsbh4392]

I keep wanting to stop and dig one up. Haha My mom in law has some and I knew what they were but just haven't gotten any. They are pretty!

[@GrammaRosesHomestead]

That's why I keep one of those little shovels in my car! LOL Your mom-in-law is probably the best bet.

[@ruralreadiness5910]

Awesome information here

[@TheTinkerersWife]

Enjoyed the profile you did on this plant. I was unaware of it's history and use as a radiation indicator. Amazing! God provides in wondrous ways for things. I used to propagate this variety and several others at the nursery I worked at. Always loved the flower structures. Brought back memories of the blocks of colorful flowers we had. I am going to have to check back to see what species we had.

[@cynthiahamblin-perry5880]

I love Spiderwort but am careful where I plant it as very invasive! I found a pink flowering one too. Wow! never knew about radiation detecting!

[@GrammaRosesHomestead]

I found a cultivated variety named Sweet Kate at a nursery. It has lime green leaves and bright blue flowers. It's a stunner. I'd love to see your pink flowering one. I haven't found it to be invasive here. It's staying a clump. The clump gets bigger, but I'm not finding it all around my garden. It's said not to be self pollinating and actually needs a plant with different genetics (i.e. not a division of the original) to set seed. Sweet Kate didn't survive, so maybe that's why mine doesn't give me problems.

[@cynthiahamblin-perry5880]

@@GrammaRosesHomestead The plant is not native here but I have had several over the years and the purple one seems to spread and self seed. I have heard that from many gardeners here. Gardener's often have 2 or more varieties so maybe that is the problem! They are cross pollinating! I had that lime green one too a few years back - didn't winter over. I was bummed - thought it was so unique! Hopefully pink one will come back this year - no sign yet - I will send you a pic when it blooms!

[@GrammaRosesHomestead]

Please show me a picture when it comes back!

[@googiesfairyfarm4834]

Cynthia Hamblin-Perry I had no idea they come in different colors. I’ll definitely have to check that out. Also didn’t know it made seeds. I have never found it to be invasive but I only have the blue variety.

[@cynthiahamblin-perry5880]

@@googiesfairyfarm4834 Just google Spiderwort flower photos and you'll see many colors!

[@g.cosper]

WOW. I wish I'd known or seen this plant when I had access to a microscope! Linear cells end to end is awesome. Plus it certainly is a beauty.

[@loriemarobles3604]

It's very beautiful and like that color purple and blue.exelent video

[@GrammaRosesHomestead]

Thank you very much!

[@cynthiadonahey9989]

I knew someone who made opiate salves for radiations burn. These salves also included spiderwort. It was also applied to mucosal membranes. She made mouth washes also.not recommend for overuse situations. I remember she had a covered fence plot among the test plots at a big state university. She stole dried corn in the fall and this was put up with. She had to tell them where she got the cobs. She was a Pole who had been brought from Germany after the war.

[@cynthiadonahey9989]

She simmerec corn cobs with oatmeal and spiderwort.

[@cynthiadonahey9989]

She served a pot roast lunch on Tuesdays. Whatever was simmering as a green water was added to the pot roast for gravy.

[@CrackerFL]

Thanks for naming a plant that grows so easy in the south! I didn't know what it's name was. Pretty and clumps like a day lilly.

[@kathyroberts5870]

I have Spiderwort ,didn't know what it was.

[@Gesundheit888]

I never knew how beautiful spider plants can be. Now I will plant some. How did they ever evolve into the plants that they are? Makes me wonder.

[@Pavazamalli]

Wow, that is a wonderful bit of info on the radiation detection. Thank you.

[@deborahwagner9033]

never have seen

[@GrammaRosesHomestead]

Now you'll recognize it if you do come across it.

[@maryjemisonMaryjay1936]

I love spiderwort my yard is beautiful with SW flowers are edible so put your Cake 🍰