Commelina coelestis
| Commelina coelestis | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Commelina coelestis (common name: blue spider wort)
Propagation: Seed - sow March in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 4 - 5 weeks at 20°c[1]. Prick the seedlings out into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts.
Division in early spring. The root clump consists of a number of finger-shaped roots joined together at their tops. When dividing this, it is important to ensure that each division has at least one growing bud at the top[2][K]. Pot up the divisions and grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are established and then plant them out in late spring, after the last expected frosts[K].
Cuttings during the growing season. These root very easily[3].
Cultivation: Prefers a light well-drained loam with added leafmold and a warm sunny position[4][2][5]. Established plants are drought tolerant[5].
A very ornamental plant[6], it is not very winter hardy in Britain so the roots are best dug up in autumn and stored like dahlias in a cool frost free place[6]. When grown in a light well-drained soil and mulched well, the roots usually survive the winter outdoors, at least in the milder areas of the country[2][K].
This plant is very attractive to slugs[K].
Range: Southern N. America - Mexico.
Edibility: Tubers - cooked[7]. Starchy[8]. The plant forms a clump of thin finger-shaped roots about 7 - 10cm long. These are easily harvested, though overall yields are low. The roots have a fairly bland flavour and an acceptable texture[K]. By no means a favourite root crop, but acceptable in small quantities[K].
Soil: Can grow in light soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sanders, Thomas. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge, 1926.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Grey, Charles. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate, 1938.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.