I have recently discovered spiderwort. Love that it is beautiful, edible, medicinal and can be used to dye clothing. I'm in North Carolina and it grows on the side of the roads. It is illegal to dig the plants, but I can pick wildflowers. How would I root a cutting? Do I use rooting hormone? Would love any advice. Thanks in advance.

Our database mentions propagating from seed or divisions. It's possible that they don't root well from cuttings. Can you watch and gather seed? I'm sometimes tempted to dig a tiny plant if there are lots of them. I'm going to have to see if any of them grow where I live.

I would check into digging it up from ditches, if it grows there. Usually, whoever maintains the road shoulders (city, county, state) will clean out the ditches periodically and they make no effort to save any vegetation. And if they routinely mow (or spray) the shoulder between the roadbed and ditch, that also seems like 'fair game' to me. Even though this seems practical to me, it may still be illegal. Regulations are often not based on common sense.

I have spiderwort varieties in my backyard. I can trim them back, and any cuttings that touch soil will root! You don't have to "dig" it, just free a few pieces and lay them in you garden bed. Spring is a good time to root them.

And welcome to NGA!

Thank you all very much! Bubbles that is what I'll do. I didn't realize they rooted that easily. I heeled them into the wetter soil in the garden. Thanks again. Have a wonderful weekend!

I am a photographer and Spiderwort is my #1 favorite wild flower to take pictures of. Hundreds of them on my property. Gene

Very cool, Gene. I haven't checked the database for photos. Have you added some of your pics to it?

I'm kinda new here and have not even looked at the data base yet. I teach a class in Photo Composition and Spiderwort pictures are a big part of that. So many compositional possibilities. Gene

OK, a few examples. Gene

Your phot is lovely! A favorite wild flower, and a volunteer in my yard that has spread on it's own to create a lovely summer border. They seem to reseed easily on it's own. Perhaps nip off some of the flower heads and spinkle them into dirt and see what happens? And yes, with very little coaxing, they re-root themselves.

Gorgeous photos, Gene. You definitely should add some to the database when you get a chance.

I didn't think we had it around our place, but those blooms look familiar to me. I'm going to have to do a search around to see if it does grow here.

gasrocks said:I am a photographer and Spiderwort is my #1 favorite wild flower to take pictures of. Hundreds of them on my property. Gene

Your photos are stunning Gene!

This is as good as I can get...

Thanks. I use a lot of older lenses that I have adapted to my DSLR. Gives the pictures a different look. Would be very difficult to duplicate the results using any current, modern lens. Spent an hour this morning taking pictures of Crab Apple blossoms. Had to quit when the sun came out and the wind picked up. Was using one of my favorite rare lenses: Paris Boyer Sapphire. Made in France in the 1950's and not meant for cameras. But, perhaps I digress and all of this should be over in the photography area. I'll post one of this mornings pictures here in an hour. Gene

Fascinating, Gene! My husband has a lot of old and rare lenses. He used to do a lot of photography and dark room work. Now things are much easier, but not quite as perfect. I'll look forward to seeing more of your plant photos.

Send me a TreeMail with a list of those lenses and I can tell you all about them, perhaps. I buy and sell lenses on eBay. over 500 in the last 4 years. Gene

I agree with Karen, that's fascinating info!

Thanks, Gene, I don't think he's ready to part with any of them. We have gotten a few on Ebay over the years.

It would appear that only the Tradescantia virginiana is protected in North Carolina. The others are fair game.

OK, 2 from this morning. I do not want to buy your lenses. Just thought you might find some more info handy. Gene

Thanks Greene. I picked some flowers. Focusing on the flowers that looked past their prime. They are in a vase of water. Every so often a seed will fall out. I've been collecting the seeds in an unsealed baggie so they can air dry for a few days. Will Stratify for 3 months in the fridge and plant next year. Fingers crossed they grow. Love all the pictures. Beautiful.