Murdannia spp.

Tropics and subtropics worldwide (mainly Asia)

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 8–11

Overview

Murdannia spp. is a genus of around 50 annual and perennial herbs in the dayflower family (Commelinaceae), spread through tropical and subtropical regions worldwide and most diverse in Asia. Plants range from creeping, rooting stems to erect or tufted growth, generally 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) tall, with soft, grass-like to lance-shaped leaves that sheathe the stem. The three-petaled flowers are short-lived, opening for part of a day, in shades of blue, violet, lilac, pink, or white, and are carried singly or in small clusters. Murdannia nudiflora is a widespread weed of lawns, paths, and rice fields, while Murdannia keisak has become invasive in wetlands of the southeastern United States. Many species occupy moist or seasonally wet ground and root freely from the nodes, letting them spread quickly. Several behave as persistent weeds in warm climates.

Native Range

Murdannia spp. is native across the tropics and subtropics of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas, with the center of diversity in Asia. Plants grow in moist to wet open ground, including marsh edges, ditches, rice fields, lawns, and disturbed soil.

Suggested Uses

Some species are grown in bog gardens, pond margins, and damp containers for their short-lived blue to lilac flowers. More often the genus is encountered as a lawn, rice-field, or wetland weed. Containment is needed for the spreading and wetland-invasive species.

How to Identify

Recognized by soft, grass-like or lance-shaped leaves with sheathing bases and short-lived three-petaled flowers in blue, violet, lilac, pink, or white. Creeping species root at the nodes and form spreading patches. The fleeting three-parted flowers and sheathing leaves place it with the dayflowers, distinct from true grasses it can resemble when not in bloom.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 2'

Width/Spread6" - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering runs through the warm, wet season, mainly summer into autumn, with each flower lasting only part of a day. Bloom continues over a long period as new flowers open in succession. In the tropics flowering can occur much of the year.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Blue to violet, lilac, pink, or white

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Most species grow in full sun to part shade on moist to wet soil and tolerate poor and disturbed ground. Steady moisture suits the genus, and several species thrive in shallow water or saturated soil at pond and marsh edges. Stems root readily at the nodes, so plants spread on their own and can move beyond their intended area. Frost kills top growth, and tender species are grown as warm-season plants outside the tropics. Propagation is by seed or by rooted stem pieces. Where the wetland species are unwanted, removal before seed set helps limit spread.

Pruning

Trim or mow spreading stems to control the size of patches and reduce reseeding. Remove rooted fragments to keep plants from moving into new ground. No formal pruning is needed.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 2 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown

Perennial