Plant ID

Tue May 05, 2009 3:56 pm

Hello. Would someone be so kind as to point me in the right direction? Looking for an ID on this plant. My dw brought it home from a recent outing where she dug it up from someone who gave it to her. Looks like iris family, but I'm just not sure. It was growing in Middle Tennesse (Zone 6B) if that helps.

Thanks...Richard in TN[img][img]http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee271/Venom8260/Flower.jpg[/img][/img]

Tue May 05, 2009 4:08 pm

I think...

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.smgrowers.com/imagedb/Tradescantia_PurpleHeart.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp%3Fplant_id%3D1560&h=300&w=300&sz=69&tbnid=FHY9auI3YFGqeM::&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtradescantia&hl=en&usg=__M9ycPBC_QwaqOrrAHr0DfkdiqO4=&ei=QmQASu-nOYTFtgewkaWKBw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image

Sorry about the monster URL...

HG

Tue May 05, 2009 5:21 pm

Hmmmm...Purple Heart. I searched the net and it certainly looks like and fits the description of a Purple Heart. EXCEPT...the one thing that bugs me is that everything I'm reading about it says the Hardiness Zone is 8+. This stuff I have was definately in Zone 6b. I called my wife and she told me that the folks that gave it to her had it planted down a huge stretch of the side of their barn.

Is there a variety of Purple Heart that can tolerate 6b?

Tue May 05, 2009 7:48 pm

There are native tradescantias as well perhaps some specific crossing? Perhaps the listing is wrong... the leaves sure do look like...

HG

Tue May 05, 2009 9:00 pm

Well I've searched some more and cannot find anything else that could come close. My wife remembers the house where she got it so perhaps I've just make my way out there this week and see if they remember.

Thanks for all your help HG. I'll give you an update if I find out definately what they are.

Tue May 05, 2009 9:39 pm

It's not an iris. I agree definitely a purple tradescantia. I'm in zone 6b also and I had some in my garden that survived a winter and came back, but then didn't survive the next winter. I'm sure it depends on how bad the winter is and how protected a spot they're in. The side of a barn might well have a micro climate above 6b.

Wed May 06, 2009 1:46 am

Buried under snow is 32 degrees constant and that is a Zone 8 easy...

Nature abhors a vacuum...

HG