Commelina virginica Linnaeus. Common name: Virginia Dayflower. Phenology: Jul-Oct. Habitat: Bottomlands, swamp forests, tidal swamp forests, other moist to wet forests and forest edges. Distribution: NJ west to KS and OK, south to FL and TX.
ID notes: Our most robust erect species of Commelina.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, ETx1, F, FNA22, G, GrPl, GW1, Il, K4, Mo1, NcTx, Pa, RAB, S, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Brashier (1966), Faden (1993), Tucker (1989); > Commelina hirtella Vahl — S13; > Commelina virginica L. — S13; Commelina virginica L. Basionym: Commelina virginica L. 1762
Links to other floras: = Commelina virginica - FNA22
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FACW
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Sonnia Hill | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Floyd A. Griffith | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect to ascending perennial with horizontal subsurface stems forming clonal patches; found in bottomlands, swamp forests, tidal swamp forests and other moist to wet forests and forest edges.
Stems: Stems branched or unbranched, relatively stout, smooth or slightly hairy.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, bases enclosing the stem in a hairy tubular sheath with a fringe of reddish or yellowish bristles, lance-shaped with long tapering tip, to 8 in. long, stiff-hairy above and smooth or finely hairy beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in crowded terminal clusters, each enclosed by a folded, leafy bract 1/2-1 1/4 in. long and wide; blue, about 3/4 in. wide, composed of 3 kidney-shaped petals, the lower one slightly smaller; stamens usually not hairy. Flowers open in morning and wither by afternoon.
Fruits: Fruit a small, 3-celled capsule.
Comments: Similar to Commelina diffusa, a non-native species with weak sprawling stems that root at the leaf nodes.
Height: 8-34 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect to ascending perennial with horizontal subsurface stems forming clonal patches; found in bottomlands, swamp forests, tidal swamp forests and other moist to wet forests and forest edges.
stems: Stems branched or unbranched, relatively stout, smooth or slightly hairy.
leaves: Leaves alternate, bases enclosing the stem in a hairy tubular sheath with a fringe of reddish or yellowish bristles, lance-shaped with long tapering tip, to 8 in. long, stiff-hairy above and smooth or finely hairy beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in crowded terminal clusters, each enclosed by a folded, leafy bract 1/2-1 1/4 in. long and wide; blue, about 3/4 in. wide, composed of 3 kidney-shaped petals, the lower one slightly smaller; stamens usually not hairy. Flowers open in morning and wither by afternoon.
fruits: Fruit a small, 3-celled capsule.
comments: Similar to Commelina diffusa, a non-native species with weak sprawling stems that root at the leaf nodes.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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