Commelina virginica - VIRGINIA DAYFLOWER
Native dayflower, unlinke the invasive Asian species, this one is perennial.
Interesting addition to moist or wet places, moist woodland edge garden or pollinator garden. Rarely offered.
Light blue flowers with 3 petals, nicely contrast to showy yellow anthers. Flowers "open at day break and wilt about mid-day". Leaves are fairly large and fresh green.
Flowers from mid-summer through early fall.
Tubers are edible when cooked - "rich in starch, with a fairly bland flavor"
Animal can feed on this plant, and insects chew holes in the leaves, but this only affects the appearance of the plant. But the best is to mix it into other native plants for some protection.
woodland garden, sunny edges
Belongs to the Tradescantia family, so Dayflower resembles many Spiderworts. Genus name Commelina honors two Dutch brothers who made significant contributions to botany
Blooming Time: July - September
Size: 1.5-3' tall and wide
USDA Zones: 5/6 to 9
Culture: full sun to partial/dappled shade, adaptable to all variety of soils (neutral, mildly acidic or basic).
Moisture Needs: average to wet
Origin: native wildflower in AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WV (USDA distribution map) where it grows in swamps, freshwater marshes, bottomland forests, along river and stream banks, ditches, and in areas that flood after rain
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: no / no
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: no / yes
Attracts Hummingbirds: no
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 5" deep
Plant Combinations: Best with natural gardens, wilder corner of the garden or for naturalizing, mixed with native plants in sunny edges, woodland edges or woodland gardens. Likes moisture and grows well along the streams and pond or places that are seasonally flooded, but will grow fine in average moisture too. Can be combined with wildflowers like Aquilegia canadensis, Agastache scrophulariifolia, Asclepias incarnata, Aster macrophyllus, Boltonia, Chelone, Geranium maculatum, Eupatorium , Iris virginica or Iris versicolor, herbaceous Hibiscus, Heliopsis helianthoides, Helianthus salicifolius, Lobelia, Penstemon calycosus, Physostegia, Rudbeckia triloba, Ruellia strepens, Veronicastrum or Zizia. Looks well with finer-leaved Carex (sedges).
Picture Copyright: Theresa Thom, Commons Wikipedia
Commelina virginica - VIRGINIA DAYFLOWER
Native dayflower, unlinke the invasive Asian species, this one is perennial.
Interesting addition to moist or wet places, moist woodland edge garden or pollinator garden. Rarely offered.
Light blue flowers with 3 petals, nicely contrast to showy yellow anthers. Flowers "open at day break and wilt about mid-day". Leaves are fairly large and fresh green.
Flowers from mid-summer through early fall.
Tubers are edible when cooked - "rich in starch, with a fairly bland flavor"
Animal can feed on this plant, and insects chew holes in the leaves, but this only affects the appearance of the plant. But the best is to mix it into other native plants for some protection.
woodland garden, sunny edges
Belongs to the Tradescantia family, so Dayflower resembles many Spiderworts. Genus name Commelina honors two Dutch brothers who made significant contributions to botany
Blooming Time: July - September
Size: 1.5-3' tall and wide
USDA Zones: 5/6 to 9
Culture: full sun to partial/dappled shade, adaptable to all variety of soils (neutral, mildly acidic or basic).
Moisture Needs: average to wet
Origin: native wildflower in AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WV (USDA distribution map) where it grows in swamps, freshwater marshes, bottomland forests, along river and stream banks, ditches, and in areas that flood after rain
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: no / no
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: no / yes
Attracts Hummingbirds: no
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 5" deep
Plant Combinations: Best with natural gardens, wilder corner of the garden or for naturalizing, mixed with native plants in sunny edges, woodland edges or woodland gardens. Likes moisture and grows well along the streams and pond or places that are seasonally flooded, but will grow fine in average moisture too. Can be combined with wildflowers like Aquilegia canadensis, Agastache scrophulariifolia, Asclepias incarnata, Aster macrophyllus, Boltonia, Chelone, Geranium maculatum, Eupatorium , Iris virginica or Iris versicolor, herbaceous Hibiscus, Heliopsis helianthoides, Helianthus salicifolius, Lobelia, Penstemon calycosus, Physostegia, Rudbeckia triloba, Ruellia strepens, Veronicastrum or Zizia. Looks well with finer-leaved Carex (sedges).
Picture Copyright: Theresa Thom, Commons Wikipedia