Contact Us Host an Event Volunteer Join

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Thursday - March 26, 2015

From: Orlando, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives, Seeds and Seeding
Title: Seeds and seed pods of bluejacket (Tradescantia ohiensis or Hyacinthus orientalis
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have lots of bluejacket flowers in my yard. I keep looking for the seed pods but can't find any seeds. Where are the seed pods located on the bluejacket flower? Thanks. Lew Dallas

ANSWER:

I'm not sure if you mean Tradescantia ohiensis (Bluejacket), a native of North America or you mean Hyacinthus orientalis (Blue jacket), a native of Turkey, Syria and Lebanon.

Here is more information about Tradescantia ohienis with photos that show the seeds in the papery seed cases.

Even though Hyacinthus orientalis is a flowering plant and, thus, produces seeds, it is generally propagated by bulbs. Here are more photos of the flowering plant and photos of the ripe seed pods with the seeds inside.  Here are closeups of the seeds and the seed pods.  They will become evident along the flower stalk when the blossoms have dried up.
 

From the Image Gallery


Ohio spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis

More Non-Natives Questions

Non-native Empress trees in Beaumont TX
September 26, 2009 - I want to grow some Empress Trees in our yard. We have a huge yard and it is right on the corner of a cross street where they have just put a traffic light. People stopped at the light can see into ...
view the full question and answer

Care for non-native plumeria in Inverness FL
October 05, 2009 - I have several plumeria plants that I planted in the ground this spring. I will soon need to dig them up and store them in the garage for the winter, as I left some last year that died with the frost...
view the full question and answer

Mid-summer watering needs of non-native dwarf Meyer Lemon tree in Austin
March 20, 2011 - I live in Central Texas outside Austin city limits. I've recently purchased a dwarf Meyer lemon tree and planted it in a large pot. It's doing very well. I will be out-of-state from July through ...
view the full question and answer

Eliminating non-native invasive bermuda grass in Morgan's Point TX
April 25, 2010 - We are trying to establish a wildflower meadow, but are having trouble with the neighbor's invasive bermudagrass taking over..what can be done to eliminate the bermuda?
view the full question and answer

Blossom end rot on non-native tomatoes from Newport RI
April 25, 2014 - Can epsom salt or eggshells end blossom end rot on tomatoes?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.