Tricksy Little Weed

I'd like to introduce you to Commelina cyanea. It gets around on a few different common names such as Wandering Jew and Scurvey Weed. It is native to the eastern woodland areas of Australia which means that over here it is just a common garden weed. It acquired its common names from the fact its leaves look very simmilar to a South American Spiderwort plant also known as Wandering Jew, however that species flowers are white and it has a very weak root system. The name Scurvey Weed came about as the first settlers in the eastern states would chew on the leaves to keep Scurvey at bay. I do not recommend doing this in the present day and age, as we have pretty much stamped out scurvey and if you should mistake it for the spiderwort species it may not end well for you.

It is a prostrate ground cover weed that grows easily by seed. You have to be thorough when removing it as any pieces of stem left behind will quickly sprout root and youre back to square one. When it gets enough water it grows quite rapidly and the flowers are rather pretty. Most people I know get excited by vibrant blue blossoms and this plant is no exception. I have been told off a couple of times by people thinking that I am ruining the flower bed.

It took me a while to identify this weed when I first started in the Horticultural Industry over 10 years ago, as it was such a pretty plant that was growing in an annual bed I thought it was just another annual. Until it started taking over the bed.