Commelina

Widow's Tears, Dayflower
Varieties

Message of the Flower

Charity

The Mother’s Comment

Simple and sweet, attentive to the needs of all.

Colour

Sky blue, bright yellow

Message of the Flower

First Conscious Reception of the Light in Nature

The Mother’s Comment

The origin or starting-point of the will to progress. Nature has an instinctive thirst for Light.

Colour

Blue to lavender, white

Family

Commelinaceae

Cultivars

Few specific cultivars due to the focus on wild species.

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

Small, typically 1-2 inches

Flower Texture

Delicate, smooth

Number of Petals

Typically 3

Floral Symmetry

Bilateral

Fragrance of Flower

Generally not fragrant

Leaf Texture

Smooth, glabrous

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Color

Green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous

Life Cycle

Annual or perennial

Blooming Period

Summer to early autumn

Climate

Tropical to subtropical

Water Requirements

Prefers moist environments

Soil Type

Wide range of soils; prefers well-drained

Temperature Ranges

Warm, not frost-tolerant

Sun or Shade

Full sun to partial shade

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Slugs and snails; few diseases

Pollinators

Bees, occasionally other insects

Habitat

Moist, shaded areas; woodlands, grasslands

Role in the Ecosystem

Ground cover, nectar for pollinators

Quotations

Not commonly quoted

Ornamental

Attractive flowers and foliage

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Primarily ornamental and ecological

Endangered Status

Some species locally threatened

Search by Keywords

Search by flower's colour, message, common name, botanical name etc.