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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Commelina is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Tubers - cooked[2]. Starchy[105]. The plant forms a clump of thin finger-shaped roots about 7 - 10cm long. These are easily harvested, though overall yields are low. The roots have a fairly bland flavour and an acceptable texture[K]. By no means a favourite root crop, but acceptable in small quantities[K].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a light well-drained loam with added leafmold and a warm sunny position[42, 111, 190]. Established plants are drought tolerant[190]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is not very winter hardy in Britain so the roots are best dug up in autumn and stored like dahlias in a cool frost free place[1]. When grown in a light well-drained soil and mulched well, the roots usually survive the winter outdoors, at least in the milder areas of the country[111, K]. This plant is very attractive to slugs[K].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow March in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 4 - 5 weeks at 20°c[164]. Prick the seedlings out into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring. The root clump consists of a number of finger-shaped roots joined together at their tops. When dividing this, it is important to ensure that each division has at least one growing bud at the top[111, K]. Pot up the divisions and grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are established and then plant them out in late spring, after the last expected frosts[K]. Cuttings during the growing season. These root very easily[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Mexico (Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Ciudad de México, Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Tlaxcala, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Commelina coelestis	Blue Spider Wort, Commelina	Perennial	0.5	8-11		L	N	DM	2	0
Commelina communis	Day Flower, Asiatic dayflower	Perennial	0.8	6-9		LM	SN	DM	3	2	1
Commelina dianthifolia	Birdbill Dayflower	Perennial	0.1	6-9		LM	SN	DM	2	1
Commelina elliptica		Perennial	0.1	7-10		LM	SN	DM	2	0
Commelina erecta	Slender Day-Flower, Whitemouth dayflower	Perennial	1.2	8-11		LM	SN	DM	2	0
Commelina erecta angustifolia	Whitemouth Dayflower	Perennial	0.8	8-11		LM	SN	DM	2	1
Commelina tuberosa	Commelina	Perennial	0.1	7-10		LM	SN	DM	2	0
Commelina virginica	Virginia Day-Flower	Annual/Perennial	1.2	-		LM	SN	DM	2	0
Tradescantia virginiana	Spiderwort, Virginia spiderwort	Perennial	0.4	4-9	M	LMH	SN	DM	2	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Commelina - Willd.