Tradescantia: Tradescantias are unfussy plants that grow almost anywhere and provide vibrant colour in summer, writes Bethan Morris

摘要

Tradescantia is often a welcome invader to garden borders where it readily self-seeds and can become a permanent fixture. Known as spiderwort, perhaps because of its narrow, strap-like leaves, the genus consists of 71 species of perennial plants in the monocot family Commelinaceae and can be found growing wild in the UK, in clumps or individually in wooded areas. Tradescantia species are weakly upright, scrambling plants that can reach 75cm in height. Some varieties are more compact, however, and reach heights of just 30cm. Their most recognisable characteristic is their three-petalled flowers, most often lavender-blue, with six yellow anthers in the middle.