woodland wildflower

Whitemouth dayflower

Commelina erecta

Also known as Dayflower, Widow's Tears, White-mouth Dayflower

Native to much of the USA

Florida to New Mexico, north to New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois and southern South Dakota

In the garden

A woodland wildflower for partial shade and lean, dry soil.

Light

Full sun Partial shade Full shade

Moisture

Dry Moist Wet

Bees American Bumble Bee

also Western Honey Bee, Pure Green Sweat bee, Two-spotted Longhorn Bee +8 more
Golden Sweat Bee, Augochloropsis metallica, Lasioglossum tarponense, Amegilla langi, Augochlora semiramis, Augochloropsis sumptuosa, Lasioglossum nymphale, Megachile pseudobrevis
Flower flies Margined Calligrapher

also Dusky-winged Hover Fly, Peg-legged Compost Fly, Epauletted Hover Fly +1 more
Pseudodoros clavatus
Butterflies Laviana White-Skipper also Hylephila phyleus phyleus
Also visited by
- Beetles: Oulema variabilis

Habitat: WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
Native range: Much of the USAUnited States (28): AL, AR, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WV. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Native distribution: Florida to New Mexico, north to New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois and southern South DakotaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.

Light: Partial shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
Moisture: DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
Soil: Dry, sandy soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
Soil texture: Light to medium (sandy to loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
Soil pH: Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).

Life cycle: PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).