Hi kandm, I'm sorry I don't have any advice to offer on your spiderwort problem. I wasn't even aware it could get invasive and I have several plants in a couple of my beds.

I do have an unrelated question though, can you tell me the name of the amber colored heuchera in the second pic?? Is it that color year-round or only certain times?

Thanks, and I hope someone else here can give you some suggestions. Sincerely, Danielle

The tropical spiderwort, Benghal dayflower, Commelina benghalensis L. is on Alabama's list of invasive plant species.
The info at the 2nd link may help you with identifying as to whether or not you have tropical spiderwort.
If you have an infestation of tropical spider wort, you may want to contact your local ACES.

Here is a link that might be useful: tropical spiderwort

Sorry, I don't know what the other flower is, I just grabbed a couple of pics of spider wort off google image search to illustrate my post.

I am pretty sure it must be the tropical variety of spider wort, it's all over. The house next door has been vacant for a few months and I can see the same problem in their yard.

Does your spiderwort look like this?
Note that the leaves are a lot wider than on e.g. Virginia Spiderwort.

Here is a link that might be useful: 55 other spiderwort

No the leaves are not that wide and it is more blue than purple. I think it's probably not the tropical kind, regardless, it is all over, every 3 inches or so. I called ACES and they said they had a similar complaint last week, after doing the research for the other person the woman said the only solution was to pull up the whole plant. Fun!

So now, how do I remove sod lol. Is there a tool I can rent?

You may be able to rent a

Here is a link that might be useful: sod cutter

Kandm...I too have a problem with spider wart...it's not the kind with the wide leaves either. It's very invasive and does spread itself around alot. I'm constantly digging it out of my beds etc. It also grows in my back lawn. I really don't think a sod cutter will take care of your problem because if you don't get all the roots (an they go pretty deep) it will just come right back. I hate the stuff and the only way I know to get rid of it is to dig it up or kill it with roundup. Good luck with your problem.
Jan

I have them everywhere too, and they are some juicy buggers. I get splattered every time I weed-eat them.

I think the coral bells is called "Caramel" and it is supposed to stay that color all the time.
Personally, I have a terrible time with invasive plants. I planted obedient plant and I haven't seen it since. Those little wild roses on the side of the road? Mine has been in the ground for 3 years and it is still a little tiny stalk with pitiful leaves. But I have impatiens coming up in the middle of the lawn and in the cracks in the driveway. (They're kinda pretty!)
Maybe I should get you to send me some of your invasive spiderwort!

i thought alabamatreehugger was having some of these for a cookout when i misread "juicy burgers". *lol*

Spiders wort grows every where here in Ohio.. I dig it trying to get all the roots. This is a never ending job. How do I kill it? I have tried bleach, round up, gas, vinegar, and other weed killers, nothing seems to touch it. Last spring I did dig 6 garbage cans from my beds.. Today I am doing the same thing, this plant is terrible. The deep blue flowers maybe be beautiful to some people but I am so sick of digging this plant, there has to be something that will kill it along with that spreading root system. Please help...

Gee, am I the only one who likes spiderwort? I have a clump in my front flower bed and it does not seem to be "invastive" - maybe I should keep a close eye on it!

I love it, too, and haven't had a problem with it being invasive, though it does spread. I have pink and blue. They're pretty in the winter and spring, then die down in the summer. Mine happen to be in an area where they can spread quite a bit without causing a problem anyway.

I like them too. Little to no care required, fairly drought resistant, reblooming off and all season- what more could you ask for?

i gave up the fight long ago. it just goes where it wants. if i could cross it with turnip greens i could feed the world from my yard. we've lived here 20 years and i've decided the old lady we bought it from routinely tossed a handful of marbles in the air and planted something where one hit. stuff just in the most obscure places.... the spiderwort just grows and grows....

OMG I hate this stuff! This is an old thread but I hope maybe I can assist someone in dealing with this thoroughly awful plant. I too tried the manual removal approach by digging up the subsurface "bulbs" but it is very labor intensive and not always entirely successful. Glyco based products may (or may not) be effective for you--I have not had great success with them, and, of course, they run the risk of damaging other grasses. The only product I have used with what appears to be 100% success is Tordon RTU. Here are my steps: 1 remove and dispose of all seed heads 2 dedicate an old knife to this endeavor and cut the plant off at ground level 3 immediately apply Tordon to the tops of the cut stems--it is ready to use from the bottle (thus the RTU) and it does not take a huge amount but I like to give these horrible guys a decent drink of this sweet death juice. If you want to check your work, mark a plot where several stalks were growing and dig up a sample of the "root ball" after a week or so. They should be darkened and starting to look rotten--this is what you want.

This process is laborious, but less so than trying to dig up all those root balls. Good luck! The battle rages on. A bonus is Tordon will get rid of most anything (wisteria, bamboo, Virginia creeper, popcorn trees etc)--it just has to be applied to a fresh cut. I'm thoroughly surprised the government actually deigns to allow us commoners to buy this entirely effective product.

I do not believe I have the "tropical" spiderwort but a more common variety. A Royal PITA nonetheless I suspect Tordon also will work on the tropical strain, however.

I'm going to try to find some Tordon. Unfortunately, my problem is my neighbor's yard. They planted spiderwort years ago and the seeds spread to my yard. They have since moved and now rent their house so, I will probably never get rid of this highly invasive plant, but I want to at least knock it down a bit. I'm also going to try it on a crepe myrtle that I have been trying to kill for about 3 years, but it keeps coming back. It was also a self-sprouter from one of my other crepe myrtles, but it is way to close to the foundation of my house. Thank you for the advice.