Common Dayflower Commelina communis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Asiatic dayflower
- Phonetic Spelling
- kom-uh-LIN-uh KOM-yoo-nis
- Description
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Asiatic dayflower is a herbaceous, summer annual in the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae) that can be erect at 3 feet high or spread for up to 10 feet across the ground like a vine. It is native to East Asia. The species epithet is Latin for "growing in colonies."
This plant does best in partial shade, in moist to mesic conditions, with fertile soil that is loamy or slightly sandy. Asiatic dayflower tolerates full sun and light shade.
It is a weedy, sprawling plant that often roots at the joints of stems. The 1-inch flowers are blue/purple and appear singly on a 2-inch stalk from mid-summer to early fall. Each flower blooms during the morning for a single day, hence the common name. The root system is fibrous, and the plant can root and form new plants vegetatively. At favorable sites, the Asiatic dayflower forms colonies that can exclude other species of plants, and it is considered invasive by several states (but not NC).
Asiatic Dayflower can spread aggressively and become a pest. It is resistant to herbicides; nonetheless, some gardeners encourage its growth as a ground cover in moist, woody areas.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. The plant is a preferred food source of the White-Tailed Deer.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Commelina
- Species:
- communis
- Family:
- Commelinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Flowers are used in Japan to produce a dye.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Europe to Japan and Indo-China
- Distribution:
- Spread to eastern Canada and the United States eastern seaboard west to Texas and the Dakotas, Oregon, and Washington state.
- Wildlife Value:
- The foliage is eaten by Neolema sexpunctata (Six-Spotted Beetle) and is a preferred food source of the White-Tailed Deer.
- Climbing Method:
- Scrambler
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule that has 2 cells, each cell containing 2 seeds. These seeds are dark brown or black and have a surface that is bumpy and rough (rugose).
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Common Dayflower may have 3 petals that are blue (or blue and white) with yellow stamen. This flower is about ½ to 1 inch across. The sepals are usually pale white and translucent. The sterile upper stamens have showy yellow anthers that help to attract insects to the flower. The lower stamens are longer than the upper stamens and fertile. An upturned spathe that lies underneath the flower is green and about 1 to 2 inches long. The upper margins of this spathe are free all the way to the base.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are broadly lance-shaped to egg-shaped, hairless, and up to 5" long and 2" across. Leaves can be ovate, lanceolate-ovate, or slightly cordate. Veins run parallel to each other. The base of each leaf is sessile or clasping, and it has a 1 inch membranous sheath that wraps around the stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The round stems are smooth and hairless.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Weedy
