A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2007 New Plants to figure out

While we were in Frankenmuth, MI. I took some shots of some plants that me and my wife may want to plant at next year, you folks help a great deal on my last mystery plants, any ideas ???



Thank You again for your help

The first looks like a form of Tradescantia, not sure which one though.
I'd say the second is a Globe Amaranth

You guys are great, how do you know so much about plants, these were right on...Made my wifes day...Thanx again for the expert help

The one in the first picture is Tradescantia pallida ("purple heart").

The first one is also commonly called a "Wandering Jew." I just pulled all of mine out of my front bed. They spread rapidly, and are EASY to grow. They will grow from a stem/joint. Just make sure it touches soil, and away it goes. I bought one in a small 6" pot about 4 years ago, and I broke each joint or segment apart and put each segment into their own pots, and then transplanted to my bed in spring 2003. The darn things took root quickly, and soon covered an area that was 2 foot by 10 foot! And that's with me trimming them constantly! I have them as a sort of groundcover underneath my Lilies. Trust me, the purple under the tall green leaves of the lilies just "pops"!