By Loosestrife2
United States
Plant ID Please......I purchased this perennial ten years ago and I forgot its name. It goes into bloom the beginning of June and its flowers close up in the evening to reopen in the morning. Its leaves have the appearance of long blades of grass. If any members know what it it is I would appreciate your help.
I have updated his question with photos of the front and back of the flower. The flowers are in clusters of eight or more buds at the end of a long stem with no more than three going into bloom on a daily basis it seems......
- 12 Jun, 2021
Answers
I would think it is a Tradescantia which come in several different colours, other may come up with something different.
12 Jun, 2021
It isn't very clear but I would say Tradescantia too.
13 Jun, 2021
It is a Tradescantia, Loosestrife, a.k.a. Spiderwort. The flower you photographed is slightly abnormal, though, something like a four-leaved clover!
13 Jun, 2021
Thank You All! The unusual thing about this plant is that all the flowers have four petals and not three. A mutation perhaps.
13 Jun, 2021
oh you have added individual flower photo. Yes that is unusual they normally have 3 petals etc.
at least you have a name for it now. ;o)
13 Jun, 2021
Mines are blue. Could color be related to Ph or is it a different species?
13 Jun, 2021
About 80% genetics, and 20% pH, Bathgate. When I grew it years ago, the variety was supposed to be sky blue, and came out amethyst purple, instead, in my 8.7 pH soil. Not as much difference as a Hydrangea would show, but more difference than a bearded Iris.
That group of hybrids come in a number of different colors in the white-pink-purple-blue range, so the genetic component appears to be fairly strong. When I was in college in the late 70's, they used to use the blue varieties to assess chemicals for mutagenic properties: they would apply the chemical, and later examine the flowers under a microscope, counting up the cells that had turned from blue to pink.
13 Jun, 2021
Previous question
« Could someone identify this plant please....looks very much like Gunnera.
are there 3 petals/flower? it may be a tradescantia.
12 Jun, 2021