Saturday, May 15, 2010

Spiderworts are this girl's best friend (somewhat lame post for the weekend)

More substantial posting Monday (cross fingers) but spiderworts,  are the best. If you want a fun perennial that is easy and self seeds like mad... but we enjoy invasions around here.



Their flowers are substantial but close up when it gets too hot by the afternoon. 


As they self seed, I have a million little seedlings which I give away and ones of various ages so that I have a varying amount of heights for my spiderworts.


The oldest ones are ginormous!  About 4 feet tall, I swear.  They are in my front yard bed though that gets a good amount of fertilizer for the irises and bulbs, so that might be a factor in their height.


I still have to give them a taste, as I learned some time ago that they are edible, and okra-like in taste as well as excellent indicators for a nuclear apocalypse.  This plant is also a common find at master gardener trades/flings, due to that easy self seeding thing.  Like all my lemon balm and feverfew and lambs ears, this self sows into my lawn too. 

I promise to give an update when I give this stuff, also known as "cow slobber" a taste (next month, I swear!)

Just wanted to bring up reliable plant-i-tude for those who care!

4 comments:

Anna said...

It's a beautiful color.
To what zone is it hardy?

I also love the idea of using flowers that self-seeds or that I hope will grow and spread like weeds.

Pretty much most of the plants you've featured are new to me. Just goes to show how little I know... but none the less I do love to be in the garden and hopefully as I learn more about different plants...will be able to incorporate them in the garden.

Anna

Jim Groble said...

Great pics. I need to get some. jim

persephone said...

@Anna: Hey Anna! spiderworts apparently run from zones 4-9 though I never listen completely to those zone claims as I can get stevia in zone 11(?) to overwinter here in 7b/8a. Glad this was an interesting and new one for you! Once you get a few, really you're set. It might take a couple years before they get to a good size, but it's worth the wait and cost savings to get smaller at first. Also, I'd craigslist them to find them if possible b/c you can usually find them easily from someone desperate to get them out of their garden!

@Jim: Go Jim! Go get 'em :)

Anna said...

I don't completely listen to the zoning rules either.
I ask because I'm more 11 or so... and am always looking out for non-native plants to grow.

Thanks,
Anna