Hi Thurston, I read your post, and very nearly posted this under yours but didn't want to hijack it. This weed is so frustrating! I've thought of using a preemergent too, but my forest is just starting to self-regenerate, so that option is out for me :( I was hoping that someone may have had some success in keeping it smothered. Ah well, looks like I will have to get out the black plastic bags and spend this weekend pulling it out. We do have a spray in New Zealand that is aimed at horrible weeds like WJ, kikuyu and couch grasses, etc but I can't remember its name. I think it was Target, but I've read so many spray labels lately they've all merged into one!!! I'm heading back to the garden centre later today, so will find the name for you. Best of luck!

Well, I've been using the concentrate RoundUp granules mixed with water to kill this stuff off but I'm taking out large sections of lawn at the same time. Please, if anyone knows of a selective herbicide or another way to rid myself of this pest I would love to know. I've tried pulling/digging it but it's everywhere now and seems to keep coming back even in the areas I've pulled it. This coupled with the fact that I'm nearly 6'8" and all the bending over to dig takes a toll on my back is making this a pain in the backside literally :) Does anyone have suggestions? It's spreading through St. Augustine. Seems to spread here and there easily. It's probably the reason my dog has had such problems with what the vet thought were chronic allergies (chewing at his feet, licking his legs all the time). I've read this stuff can cause dermatitis on animals :( Sheesh... I'll take any advice... anything at all :) -Thirston

Ladyrose, I was very surprised that I liked Wild so much. I was expecting another Eat, Pray, Love and instead got something gritty, well-written, and -- since I do not camp or hike to a point that requires backpacks -- fascinating in its details. Given her history as well as the story of the hike itself,it was also a real page-turner. I was very pleasantly surprised. I've flown through two books by Meljean Brook, The Iron Duke and Heart of Steel, both steampunk romance/adventures and very enjoyable. She's a new-to-me-author so I'm hunting down everything in her "Iron Seas" series, and so far I've really liked everything I've read. Lemonhead, I'm almost half-way through Patricia Brent, Spinster and while I'm liking it well enough, I am having a hard time figuring out why the main character is being so difficult, but I suppose it would be an overly-simple a plot otherwise. Thank you for recommending it.

Cassandra H...No it's never had heavy white stripes, the leaves have always been mostly green. It has not flowered. I received a few cuttings from my neighbor's plant back in April + after soaking them in water to start the roots it's turned into the monster that you see here. Actually I've trimmed it back a few times + started yet another planter from it already! see pic. I love how fast it grows. In fact I'ld love to be able to eat the leaves in a salad! It would save me $$! I've tasted a few leaves + they have a mild flavor similar to baby spinach. But I've read that certain WJ's are toxic so before eating more I want to know what the variety is to make sure I won't get sick! There are different varieties. The purple ones are Tradescantia pallida, which are usually house plants or hanging plants. The ones with purplish leaves with stripes are T. zebrina, also typically an ornamenal. It may be called Tradescantia Zebrina or Zebrina pendula or I may have Tradescantia Fluminensis which I've read is used in salads! OMG! http://brisbanelocalfood.ning.com/group/edible-weeds/forum/topics/trad-wandering-jew-tradescantia-fluminensis Here's a pic of the second round of cuttings...