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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Commelina communis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. 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) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Shoots
Edible Uses:

Leaves, flowers and young shoots - raw or cooked[2, 105, 177]. Chopped finely and added to salads or cooked as a potherb[183]. A sweet taste with a mucilaginous texture[179].

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.
Antibacterial Astringent Depurative Diuretic Febrifuge

The leaves are depurative, diuretic and febrifuge[116, 147]. Used as a throat gargle to relieve sore throats and tonsilitis[116, 266]. A decoction of the dried plant is used to treat bleeding, diarrhoea, fever etc[218]. Extracts of the plant show antibacterial activity[218].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye

A bright blue dye is obtained from the petals[74].

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a light well-drained loam with added leafmold[1, 42]. Requires a sheltered position[42]. This species is commonly cultivated as a vegetable in China[2]. The plant can be invasive[42], the stems sprawling along the ground and rooting as they go[K].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - sow March in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 4 - 5 weeks at 20°c[164]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring. Make sure that each portion has at least one growing bud[111, K]. Cuttings during the growing season. Very easy[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Asiatic Dayflower, Day Flower, A tor, Danzhuye, Duck's tongue plant, Gangi gadda, Kannang keeray, Miandazi, Rau trai, Spider wort, Thai lai trang, Yashecao, Zhuyecao,

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Native distribution includes East Asia and Southeast Asia including China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, the Russian Far East, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Within China it is found in all provinces except Qinghai, Hainan, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Introduced to Europe and eastern North America. Now found from Central Europe well into western Russia. Present in Ontario and Quebec in Canada, and in most of the eastern and central American states from Massachusetts and New York in the northeast, west to Minnesota and south through the Great Plains to Texas and east to extreme northern Florida in the United States.

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.

This plant can be weedy or invasive. Introduced to central and southeastern Europe and eastern North America where it has spread to become a noxious weed.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal
Commelina coelestis	Blue Spider Wort, Commelina	Perennial	0.5	8-11		L	N	DM	2	0
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 communis - L.