The two plants are
totally different. Spiderwort is Tradescantia virginiana. It has arching,
grasslike foliage, with three-petaled flowers in either purple, blue, pink or
white. Some consider it a weed, but it is a wonderful perennial, and new
varieties have larger flowers. Job’s tears is Coix lacryma-jobi, an ornamental
grass. It has sword shaped leaves. The outside covering of the female flower
hardens as seed ripens, becoming a shiny bead in white, gray or violet. The
seeds ‘beads’ are used for necklaces, bracelets and rosaries. It is grown
primarily as an annual here. Cypress vine, Ipomoea quamoclit, is actually a type
of morning glory. It has delicate fern-like foliage which can grow to 20 feet in
one season. It produces hundreds of red tubular flowers. It is a great summer
annual vine for full sun, needing little in the way of care once it is
established.
Would you please tell
me the difference between a spiderwort and Job’s tears, or if there is any
difference? They appear the same to me, but I can’t find anyone who can tell me
for sure. Also, could you supply me with information on a cypress vine? Where
and how to care for it and any other information you might think useful.