Commelina diffusa
climbing dayflower
Pantropical; tropical Americas, Africa, and Asia
Overview
Commelina diffusa is a creeping herb with succulent, branching stems that trail along the ground, root at the nodes, and reach 8–16 inches (20–40 cm) tall while spreading 12–36 inches (30–90 cm) wide. The lance-shaped leaves are 1–4 inches (2.5–10 cm) long with parallel veins and clasping sheaths typical of the dayflower family. Each flower has three petals — two larger upper petals and one smaller, paler lower petal — all blue, spanning 0.4–0.6 inch (10–15 mm). The blooms open in the morning and wilt by afternoon, a single-day cycle that gives the dayflowers their name, but new flowers form in succession from boat-shaped bracts over many weeks from spring into fall. The plant favors moist, shaded ground and is common in lawns, gardens, ditches, and the margins of rice fields and streams across warm regions worldwide. Its stems fragment readily and re-root, so broken pieces left on damp soil establish new plants, which makes it persistent in irrigated beds. In cold-winter areas frost kills the top growth, though it behaves as a perennial where winters stay mild. The shallow, fibrous roots pull free easily but regrow from any node left behind.
Native Range
Commelina diffusa has a pantropical distribution and grows throughout the tropics and subtropics of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Its exact native range is debated, as it has spread widely as a weed of cultivation, and it now occurs on every continent except Antarctica.Suggested Uses
Grown occasionally as a low groundcover for damp, shaded ground and as edible greens in some cuisines. More often it appears as a volunteer weed in irrigated gardens and lawns, where its rooting stems form dense mats.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'4"
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
Flowers appear from spring through fall, and nearly year-round in frost-free climates. Each bloom opens at dawn and closes within hours, but the bracts release a steady succession of flowers over several weeks. Self-pollination occurs even in flowers that fail to open fully.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight