Richard Fuller, no rights reserved (CC0) · iNaturalist

Aneilema spp.

Tropical and southern Africa, Asia, Australia, and tropical America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

Overview

Aneilema spp. is a genus of roughly sixty species of annual and perennial herbs in the dayflower family, Commelinaceae, most diverse in tropical and southern Africa and extending into Asia, Australia, and the tropical Americas. Plants have weak, often succulent stems that creep along the ground and root at the nodes or rise to 8-40 in (20-100 cm), carrying alternate lance-shaped leaves 1-8 in (2.5-20 cm) long with sheathing bases. Branched, open panicles bear many small three-petalled flowers 0.2-0.6 in (5-15 mm) across in white, pale blue, lilac, or yellow, each lasting only part of a day before wilting. The genus differs from the related Commelina spp. in having flowers held in branched clusters rather than enclosed in a folded bract. Stamens often carry contrasting hairs or coloured anthers. Several species, such as A. aequinoctiale, behave as fast-growing weeds of disturbed and cultivated ground in warm regions. Plants need warmth and moisture and are damaged by frost.

Native Range

Aneilema spp. is centred on tropical and southern Africa, where most species occur, and ranges through tropical and subtropical Asia, northern and eastern Australia, and parts of the tropical Americas. Many species grow in seasonally wet grassland, forest margins, and disturbed ground.

Suggested Uses

Aneilema spp. is grown as a ground cover, container trailer, and conservatory foliage plant in warm climates, and as a summer annual elsewhere. The small flowers draw bees and hoverflies. Vigorous spreading species are kept to contained beds or pots rather than open borders.

How to Identify

Identify Aneilema spp. by its trailing or weakly upright succulent stems, alternate lance-shaped leaves with tubular sheaths around the stem, and open branched panicles of short-lived three-petalled flowers. Unlike Commelina spp., the flowers are not enclosed in a folded leaf-like bract. The fertile and sterile stamens often bear coloured anthers or tufts of hairs, aiding identification within the dayflower family.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 3'4"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Flowering is concentrated in the warm, wet season and can continue for many weeks where conditions stay mild, often summer into autumn in subtropical areas. Each flower opens for only part of a single day, but the branched panicles open new flowers in succession over a long period. Frost ends flowering in temperate plantings.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white, blue, lilac, or yellow

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Across the genus, Aneilema spp. grows in warm, frost-free conditions in moist, fertile soil with partial shade to full sun, reflecting its origins in tropical grassland and woodland edges. Stems root readily where they touch damp ground, so plants spread quickly and can be increased from cuttings. Consistent moisture supports lush growth, while drought causes wilting and dieback. In cool climates the tender species are grown under glass or as annuals lifted before frost. Some species self-seed and spread aggressively in warm gardens, so containment may be needed. Plants tolerate a range of soils where drainage is reasonable.

Pruning

Pinching the stem tips produces bushier, denser growth, and trailing stems can be cut back at any time during active growth. Removing rooted runners limits unwanted spread. Frost-killed top growth is cleared in spring on plants overwintered outdoors.