Tinantia spp.

false dayflower

Commelinaceae

Mexico, Central America, and the southern United States

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Tinantia spp. is a genus of about a dozen herbaceous species in the spiderwort family, Commelinaceae, native to Mexico, Central America, and the southern United States, with a few species reaching South America. Plants have soft, somewhat succulent stems and clasping, lance-shaped leaves, and most reach 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall. The flowers follow the dayflower pattern of three petals, here in pink, lavender, violet, or pale blue, each bloom lasting a single day and carried in branched clusters above the foliage. Several species, including T. pringlei, bear stamens with conspicuous coloured hairs and foliage spotted or flushed with purple. Flowering continues through summer and, in mild areas, into autumn. Most species grow in moist, shaded ground along streambanks and woodland edges, and they reseed freely where conditions suit, sometimes to the point of becoming weedy. T. erecta is grown as a warm-season annual in cooler climates. The genus tolerates heat and humidity but collapses in dry soil and is cut down by the first hard frost.

Native Range

Native to the New World, centred in Mexico and Central America, with species extending north into Texas and the southern United States and south into parts of tropical South America.

Suggested Uses

Grown in shaded borders, woodland gardens, and containers for summer foliage and flowers. The purple-leaved forms are used as warm-season bedding and as house or conservatory plants in cold climates.

How to Identify

Recognised by soft, fleshy stems, clasping lance-shaped leaves, and three-petalled flowers in pink to violet that each last one day. Stamens carry tufts of coloured hairs at their bases. In T. pringlei the leaves are mottled deep purple, separating it from the plain green Commelina spp. and Tradescantia spp. relatives.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 2'

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Summer Fall

Bloom extends through summer and into early autumn in mild regions, with individual flowers opening for a single day and a steady succession following over many weeks. Plants begin flowering within a few months of spring growth or sowing.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink, lavender, violet, or pale blue

Foliage Description

green to purple-mottled

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-6 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 Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 season

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in part shade to filtered light in moist, humus-rich soil with a pH near 6.0 to 7.5. Steady moisture is needed, as the soft stems wilt quickly in dry ground. Little feeding is required, and growth is rapid in warm, humid weather. Most species are tender and survive winter only in zones 7 to 10, though they reseed readily and return from self-sown seedlings in colder gardens. Seed and stem cuttings both root easily. Self-sowing can be heavy, so unwanted seedlings are thinned out in spring.

Pruning

Stems can be cut back by half in midsummer to control sprawl and bring on fresh growth. Removing spent flower clusters limits self-seeding. Frost blackens the foliage, which is cleared once growth dies down.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 1 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown

Perennial