Commelina communis: Country Or Region Of Origin
Eastern Europe to Japan and Indo-China
Plant Profile: Commelina communis
Taxonomy: Commelina communisNames
Common Dayflower, Dayflower
Phonetic Spelling:kom-uh-LIN-uh KOM-yoo-nis
Genus:Commelina
Species:communis
Family:Commelinaceae
Commelina communis is a sprawling weed that frequently establishes roots at the joints of its stems. Its flowers display shades of blue and purple. This species is regarded as invasive in multiple states and shows resistance to herbicides. However, some gardeners promote its cultivation as a ground cover in damp, wooded regions. This plant thrives in sunny to partially shaded environments.
Commelina communis Feature Summary
Commelina communis Image Gallery
Tags
#white
#full sun tolerant
#blue
#perennial
#white flowers
#blue flowers
#fall interest
#summer flowers
#groundcover
#wildflower garden
#naturalized area
#partial shade tolerant
Similar Plants
Commelina communis Feature Summary
Attributes
Eastern Europe to Japan and Indo-China
Perennial
Flowers
Commelina communis may have 3 petals that are blue (or blue and white) with yellow stamen. The flower has two large, blue petals and a smaller, white petal; the edges of the spathes are united near the base
White
Gold/Yellow
Blue
Summer
Fall
2-3 rays/petals
Leaves
Leaves are broadly lance-shaped to egg-shaped
Green
Lanceolate
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Moist
Occasionally Dry
3 feet-6 feet
12-24 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Stem
Landscape
Commelina communis Image Gallery
Commelina communis Attributes
Commelina communis: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Commelina communis Flowers
Commelina communis: Flower Description
Commelina communis may have 3 petals that are blue (or blue and white) with yellow stamen. The flower has two large, blue petals and a smaller, white petal; the edges of the spathes are united near the base
Commelina communis: Flower Color
Blue
Gold/Yellow
White
Commelina communis: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Commelina communis: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Commelina communis Leaves
Commelina communis: Leaf Description
Leaves are broadly lance-shaped to egg-shaped
Commelina communis: Leaf Color
Green
Commelina communis: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Commelina communis: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Commelina communis Whole Plant Traits
Commelina communis: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Commelina communis: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Commelina communis: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Commelina communis Cultural Conditions
Commelina communis: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Commelina communis: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Commelina communis: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Commelina communis: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Commelina communis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
Commelina communis: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Commelina communis Stem
Commelina communis: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Commelina communis Landscape
Commelina communis: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Commelina communis: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Commelina communis: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
