Commelina Species, Blue Spiderwort, Day Flower, Widow's Tears

Commelinacoelestis

Family
Commelinaceae (ko-mel-ih-NAY-see-ee)
Genus
Commelina (kom-uh-LIN-uh)
Species
coelestis (koh-el-ES-tis)
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Dark Blue
Medium Blue
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Bulbs
Perennials
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Fort Payne, Alabama

Huntsville, Alabama

Montevallo, Alabama

Martinez, California

Merced, California

Richmond, California

Stamford, Connecticut

Bartow, Florida

Bradley, Florida

Deltona, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Longwood, Florida

Mc David, Florida

Hawkinsville, Georgia

Divernon, Illinois

Madison, Illinois

Alburnett, Iowa

Louisville, Kentucky

Randolph, Massachusetts

Blissfield, Michigan

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Croton On Hudson, New York

Fultonville, New York

Fuquay Varina, North Carolina

Wilmington, North Carolina

Hulbert, Oklahoma

Camden, South Carolina

Ladys Island, South Carolina

Nashville, Tennessee

College Station, Texas

Denison, Texas

New Caney, Texas

Weatherford, Texas

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Liberty, West Virginia

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

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Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

9
positives
6
neutrals
5
negatives
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T
| October 2014 | positive

This plant has beautiful flowers and is not invasive at all where I live. Of course I am in northern Canada in zone 3(sometimes 2) so may...Read More

K
Back Mountain, PA | June 2014 | negative

This plant may look pretty and last all summer long but DON'T USE IT unless you have a very large area that you will never weed and don't...Read More

T
Montreal, QC (Zone 4b) | April 2013 | neutral

For the lovers of true blue flowers: The flowers are true blue. I had the Sleeping Beauty cultivar. It is an easy plant to grow. It flow...Read More

T
Oconomowoc, WI (Zone 4b) | January 2013 | positive

Always thought this was a Tradescantia, but I`ll enjoy it just the same whatever it is. And in my Z4, it seems to rely on seed for contin...Read More

M
Randolph, MA | June 2012 | neutral

i am in massachusetts, saw this plant growing in woods and brought some home. its a nice groundcover/filler starting in late spring thr...Read More

M
Croton-on-Hudson, NY (Zone 6b) | June 2012 | positive

Grows in between some stone steps for years and hasn't seemed to spread at all. Maybe because there is mostly stone around it?

M
Wilmington, NC (Zone 8a) | March 2011 | positive

I divided one clump into 10 and put them near the edge of my woodland garden behind daffodils to hide the daffodil foliage as it fades. ...Read More

S
| February 2010 | positive

I am afraid a lot of people confuse the different types of commelina. This specific type of commelina, the coelestis, is not invasive in ...Read More

M
Virginia Beach, VA | April 2009 | negative

Thought this would be a good backdrop for my front yard bed. Turned out that it decided it wanted all of the bed. Planted it 3 years ago ...Read More

S
Liberty, WV (Zone 6b) | November 2007 | neutral

This plant grows wild in West Virginia, it's always along the creek banks. It's beautiful and I love it being there, but I'm pretty sure ...Read More

T
Huntsville, AL | October 2007 | negative

Very invasive weed in North Alabama. While the flowers are pretty for a brief period, the plant is spindly and not attractive.

D
Saint Cloud, MN (Zone 4b) | July 2007 | neutral

This plant grows freely in zone 4. I have been pulling it out as I thought it was a weed (until I saw it here). It even has been growing ...Read More

P
New Caney, TX (Zone 8b) | July 2006 | neutral

People call them "Widow's Tear's" because they dry up by noon..
I have to give them a neutral.. They really are pretty and carefre...Read More

D
Bartow, FL | February 2005 | positive

I also am in central Florida and I agree that it spreads itself very freely here. But it blooms year round and is very pretty. I don't ...Read More

C
Eustis, FL (Zone 9a) | February 2005 | negative

Seems to be very invasive in Central Florida. It has taken over my back yard, and is very hard to remove. If you mow over it, it seems ...Read More

B
Bossier City, LA (Zone 8a) | May 2004 | neutral

Planted one last year. Came back this year (8a), just the one plant. I wouldn't mind having a few more, but certainly not invasive in t...Read More

J
J
Toledo, OH | May 2004 | positive

I found this plant growing wild in a ditch outside the Toledo airport. I dug it up, took it home, dug another hole (in full sun) and stu...Read More

C
La Grange, TX (Zone 8b) | July 2003 | negative

This plant grows wild in my garden in south central Texas.Freezes but comes back . Although a beautiful blue color, it vines itself throu...Read More

M
M
Lufkin, TX | July 2003 | positive

These dainty blue flowers are a welcome sight in Summer here in East Texas, growing wild in "poor" soil. When my children were small the...Read More

S
Mississauga, ON (Zone 6a) | July 2003 | positive

I have this growing for the first time this year in my Southern Ontario zone 6a/6b garden. The nursery tag that came with it (epicplants....Read More

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