Whitemouth dayflower
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Commelina erecta
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Commelinaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower gardens. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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A common but barely noticeable understory wildflower of open upland ecosystems. |
Availability: |
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Grown by enthusiasts and available in Naples at Everglades Native Designs. |
Description: |
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Small creeping herbaceous wildflower. |
Height: |
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Typically 3-12 inches in height. Spreading and forming small open or dense patches. |
Growth Rate: |
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Moderate to fast. |
Range: |
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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: |
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Pinelands and coastal uplands. |
Soils: |
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Moist to dry, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humus. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Secondary line; tolerates significant salt wind without injury, but usually is somewhat protected. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Two blue petals and one white petal. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Showy, about 1" wide; flowers are open in the morning. |
Flowering Season: |
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All year; peak in summer. |
Fruit: |
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Inconspicuous capsule. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Wilting flowers attract insects. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from cuttings and seed. |
Comments: |
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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.
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