Wandering jew / spiderworts plant.

I dont know if you have this plant (weed)?The article says common in QLD but I can assure you its just as common here too! I have rid any trace of it in my yard but it grows on the fence line from my neighbours yard. Its a huge problem for Jess, her under carriage skin it now black because of it. 


The article is correct, as to how the rash starts but does not explain what happens to the skin after contact.


As I rid my yard of it, (but it did take 2 yrs) it hasnt been a problem for Tyson.

If you do have it there.... rip it out & poison the roots. Its a really nasty plant to dogs.


Here's the article.

Tradescantia sp, commonly known as the Spiderworts, and even more frequently called "Wandering Jew". Is an extremely common cause of contact allergies in our doggy friends. This plant is extremely common in the queensland backyard, often accepted as a ground cover plant in some gardens. Here are a range of pictures of various subspecies and thier flowers. As you can see the species can have many forms.

Wandering Jew is a common cause of contact allergies in dogs. The problem normally affects the underbelly, armpits and groin of the dog, as well as ears and face. Starting as pustules surrounded by red skin which the dog will self traumatize - occassionally leading the bleeding and raw skin.
In the past few weeks I have seen atleast 6 cases of confirmed allergy to this plant. The best reccommendation I can give is to remove the plant from the garden. Failing that prevent the dog accessing the plant.

Heres the full post on the site...
http://www.kalingaparkvetsurgery.com.au/index.php/news/83-faq/86-wandering-jew-and-canine-allergic-dermatitis-dogs

May I just add. After exposure to the skin, the dogs skin becomes red, inflamed,  pussy, itchy & extremely hot to the touch.

I have had to use, antibiotics,  steroid injections & cream to calm it down with Jess. It took weeks for the inflammation to settle. & I had to watch her 24/7 to stop her gnawing at it. Cool compresses also help along with the good old human "paw paw" ointment. 

It you have this weed there by any other name. Remove it from your property!

We do get it here, but thankfully i don't have any in my garden or in local parks.

When I'm on a proper computer later, I'll sticky this, it's a nasty plant for dogs!

The plant with blue flowers is definitely NOT wandering dew.

Caryll wrote:We do get it here, but thankfully i don't have any in my garden or in local parks.

When I'm on a proper computer later, I'll sticky this, it's a nasty plant for dogs!

Ohhhh! You do get it!

Its a really nasty plant to many dogs,

Yes, although thankfully not in our garden! It isn't quite as common over here.

It's in nearly every garden here, unless the dogs on the property have had a problem. 

I told my neighbour to pull it out, kill, spray it, but.... it dosent seem to bother her dogs so...she never has. I just keep pulling it out of the fence &using small amounts of spray so I can keep it down & never effect her puppies.

What we call Spider Plants or Wandering Jew (Tradescantia) is usually a pot plant here in the UK, I don't think I've ever seen them growing in a garden. It is useful information to have that they are so malevolent towards our dogs though, so thank you for that Tracy.

I am surprised!  You have it as a pot plant?
It is such a noxious weed here we dont really even put it in the green waste bin as it will shoot up again at the waste station. We tend to burn it so there's no chance of it growing again.
I'm amazed you grow it as a pot plant.

Well, I don't, to be honest, but many people do.

They start off by looking like a bunch of green/white or purple/green grass. Then they send out trailers, from which grow little bunches of "grass", and the trailers go on and produce more little bunches. Maybe they're not the same thing.

The link is a variety of wandering dew but, is this what plant you are talking about?

We call it a spider plant as well, but its not wandering dew.
It sends out a yellowish trailer from which a new plant will grow.
Many here have this as a pot plant also.

OMG!!!!!!! There is a web site on how to grow wandering jew! My mouth is open....  
I'm speechless!  Where's the site for how to kill it?
I'm shaking my head.... why would you choose to grow it????
Its a noxious weed!

I'm really gob smacked. 

This is our most common variety.


I cant believe anyone would choose to grow this.
I rip it out like .....( I'm too polite to say)  

Most people don't know about it! There don't seem to be as many instances of poisoning in the UK due to Wandering Jew.