Translate this page:

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Commelina virginica is a ANNUAL/PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). It is in flower from June to August, 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

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root
Edible Uses:

Tubers - cooked. Rich in starch, but with a fairly bland flavour. Edible leaves[105].

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

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.

More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a light fairly dry well-drained loam with added leafmold[42]. Prefers a sunny position with some shelter[164]. Plants are not very winter hardy in Britain, 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. The roots of this plant do not seem to be tuberous, the plant seems to be more like an annual[K].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant 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

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Indiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas)

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
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 virginica - L.