Commelina communis (Asiatic Dayflower): Minnesota Wildflowers

Commelina communis (Asiatic Dayflower)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:	Commelina
Family:	Commelinaceae (Spiderwort)
Life cycle:	annual
Origin:	Asia
Status:	Weedy
Habitat:	part shade, shade; moist soil; waste areas, roadsides, edges of woods, thickets
Bloom season:	July - October
Plant height:	1 to 3 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are at the end of stalks that arise from leaf axils near the top of the plant. Individual flowers are ½ to 1 inch across and have 3 petals. The upper 2 petals are round and bright blue, the lower petal is much smaller, white and notched into 3 rounded lobes. There are 3 long fertile stamens and 3 short sterile stamens, each with yellow tips and often a spot of reddish brown in the center.

Behind the flower is a pair of leafy bracts (spathe) that is up to 2 inches long. The spathe is fused at the bottom and open at the top all the way to its base. Each flower lasts for a single day, hence the common name.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are up to 5 inches long and 2 inches across, toothless, hairless, with pointed tips, a rounded base and no leaf stem. There are faint parallel lines along the length. There is a mostly hairless sheath up to 1 inch long where the leaf joins the main stem. The main stem is smooth and hairless.

Notes:

There is a similar species, C. erecta, but is uncommon in Minnesota and isn't known to grow in the Twin Cities area. Its spathe is fused at the top for about 1/3 its length, has narrower leaves, and has more hairy sheaths at the leaf joints.

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More photos

a colony of Asiatic Dayflower

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN, July 2008

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Barbara in South Maplewood close to Vista
on: 2009-08-13 10:12:25

I just spotted this flower this morning growing at the edge of the woods at the back border of my yard. The blue petals are very beautiful. Thanks for posting information about this wildflower. It's nice to know what it is.

Posted by: Lynn in St. Louis Park
on: 2010-05-01 19:28:16

I transplanted this from my in-law's yard (next door). At the time didn't realize how invasive it was. But the rare deep, rich blue petals are worth it! I've shot numerous photos of it.

Posted by: Robyn in Litchfield
on: 2011-06-28 23:35:13

I found this plant growing in the alley in town. It is such an unusual looking flower. Thanks for helping me ID it!!

Posted by: Robbi in St. Cloud
on: 2011-07-09 00:37:24

Thought I had gotten rid of it all in 2007, then regretted it in the last few years. It popped up again this spring and I am happy to see it.

Posted by: Chris in St. Paul
on: 2011-07-13 08:22:35

This plant pops up everywhere in my yard. I let it grow in some areas, but pull it where it tries to take over. I do love its pretty little orchid like flowers.

Posted by: jean in New Brighton
on: 2011-07-23 11:35:20

i have this in my garden and thought it was a sterile asiatic lily as it came up near my stargazers. i never let it bloom, just pulled it out. this summer, i have it in a different spot in my garden and it bloomed due to weed neglect...it is so delightful!

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2011-07-23 14:58:44

This stuff is along the trails in the woods west of Rush Lake in New Brighton. Yeah, it's pretty, but it doesn't belong there. It doesn't belong in Minnesota at all--it adds nothing to the local ecology. :( You should not call this a wildflower, even if seen growing in the wild somewhere. It is not a wildflower, but a plant that escaped from someone's garden.

Posted by: Diana in NE Minneapolis
on: 2011-08-06 21:29:20

At last I know what this is. It first popped up the backyard of my former house (also in NE Mpls), amongst the alyssum. Now it's in my new gardens and I have been searching everywhere to try to find out what it is. Thank you! I only have three plants and I'll be yanking them up in the morning. Sure, they are very pretty. But when you think that this plant will out-compete any of the native species I've been planting (and even any of the hopefully tame sedum, cosmos, zinnias and flowering kale), then clearly it's a danger to the native ecosystem. This year I see so many more butterflies - I don't know if it's because they are losing so much countryside habitat or if it's because more people are growing milkweeds and I have lots of butterfly plants in my yard now. But I'm getting rid of any non-natives that spread and are hard to take out. We have enough lovely native species that will feed the birds, bees and butterflies. Thank you for this website - it's wonderfully helpful!

Posted by: Sue in Eagan
on: 2011-08-21 09:22:28

This showed up in my garden about 8 years ago. I've been trying to decide what to do with it, let it grow, pull it out, etc. In the meantime it's been moving around my perennial gardens. At least for this year, I'm letting it go. Thank you for helping me to identify it, so I can research it's invasive properties.

Posted by: Stephanie in Oakdale
on: 2011-09-06 15:28:16

I got this from my mother. Always end up pulling some every year. This year I let it take residence in a few areas. I love the little faces in the true blue flowers.

Posted by: Diana in NE Mpls
on: 2011-09-21 19:40:00

Out of 8 comments, only two of us pulled this non-native species up - and the rest think it's pretty enough to leave growing? I'm confused. I guess that's why I'll be pulling up this, Campanula Rapunculoides, creeping charlie, and now trying to destroy the clump of Japanese Knotweed I just discovered, for the rest of my life. Thanks, neighbors!

Posted by: Lynn in Stillwater
on: 2012-05-07 21:40:53

I have been trying to get rid of Commelina communis as soon as I see its first leaf in the spring with round up but it is resistant to round up is popping up again this spring. Any suggestions on how to get rid of it? I do not pull it cause I heard it seeds underground as well and spreads that way too. I heard heavy mulching works but that will be my last resort. Any other chemical that would work?