Whitemouth Dayflower
Commelina erecta
- Native to:
- Angola, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Is., Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Leeward Is., Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southwest Caribbean, Sudan-South Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is., Uganda, United States, Uruguay, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is., Yemen, Zimbabwe
iNaturalist: © luisrobe59 (iNaturalist #267693984)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Commelinaceae
- Genus:
- Commelina
- Species:
- Commelina erecta
- USDA Symbol:
- COER
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- blue
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from tuberous roots following fire; common in fire-maintained prairies and savannas.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed areas and open woodlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm soil without pretreatment. Light may enhance germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI