Whitemouth dayflower
Commelina erecta
Commelinaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower gardens.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

A common but barely noticeable understory wildflower of open upland ecosystems.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description:
Small creeping herbaceous wildflower.
Height:
Typically 3-12 inches in height. Spreading and forming small open or dense patches.
Growth Rate:
Moderate to fast.
Range:
Widespread in North America south to Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America. Rare in the Monroe County Keys.
Habitats:
Pinelands and coastal uplands.
Soils:
Moist to dry, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Secondary line; tolerates significant salt wind without injury, but usually is somewhat protected.
Drought Tolerance:
High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
Two blue petals and one white petal.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy, about 1" wide; flowers are open in the morning.
Flowering Season:
All year; peak in summer.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Wilting flowers attract insects.
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from cuttings and seed.
Comments:
Similar in appearance to the weedy exotic common dayflower, but the lowest petal is white. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Keith A. Bradley
Keith A. Bradley
Roger L. Hammer
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton