They’re beautiful and they’re edible. They attract pollinators, they bloom in the shade, and they seem immune to pests and diseases. They’re also adaptable to most soil types and rainfall averages.
But best of all? Texas spiderworts pop up and do their thing every Spring without a bit of help from me.
And yes, I know, Texas bluebonnets do that too, but mostly along the highways. Bluebonnets, which seem to prefer gravelly, poor soil, haven’t adapted well to my Blackland Prairie clay soil. I once tried planting a few in an old caliche driveway, but they didn’t like that either and disappeared after one season.
I don’t think my spiderworts will ever disappear. They don’t seem bothered by anything, no matter how painful: Summer heat (they simply go dormant and come back later when it’s cooler). Drought (somehow they manage to bloom a little even during a dry spring). Seasonally soggy heavy soil (are they wearing little Wellies on their root tips?)
And one more thing: Bluebonnets don’t need any more attention than they’re already getting. Think about that the next time you’re dragging your kids or your dogs around town looking for a photogenic patch of bluebonnets. One that hasn’t been tromped flat by hundreds of other baby- or puppy-toting photographers before you.
Spiderworts need love too.
A final note: Although spiderworts are edible and nutritious, I consider them “emergency backup food.” In other words, they’re far from my first choice when I go foraging in the backyard for something to eat.
The bees in my neighborhood are of a different mind. This morning they were dancing and dipping and diving all around my backyard spiderwort patch. They couldn’t seem to get enough.
So I guess it’s a good thing I’m not terribly fond of the taste of spiderworts.
(Photos are by Renee Studebaker. Do not use without permission.)
For more about the half dozen or so varieties of tradescantia (commonly known as spiderworts) that grow in our area, visit the Native Plant Society of Texas and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Love the vivid colors of the flowers and that action shot of the bee is amazing!
Debra, I love those colors, too. Spiderworts must know a little something about garden design — their pinks, purples and blues create a harmonious symphony of color. Thanks for stopping by!
I was about to go out there and pick my one spiderwort and put it in the salad bowl but then when you said you didn’t really care for them I decided to leave it. I wish I could grow more but they just don’t seem to like this part of town. Can we eat day flowers because I think I am going to be over run by them.
Pretty sure dayflowers are edible too. They don’t taste bad, and if I were really hungry, I’d eat them, but I’ve decided I enjoy looking at them more than eating them. They’re mucilaginous, like okra, but I like okra much better. Thanks for stopping by, Jenny.
Have you had any experience relocating spiderworts? They grow wild on my property and I was thinking of transplanting some from an area where we mow to another no mow space.
Ally, I’ve found spiderworts to be very forgiving about being moved. And lucky you to have your own wild patch…. Just loosen the dirt around them enough so that you can gently pull out a plant with a good-size bundle of thick spidery roots attached. As long as the individual plants have some intact roots, they should be fine. They’re very resilient. I’ve even left bare root plants lying around on my porch for a day or two before replanting.