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| ## erect dayflower {#erect-dayflower .Title-Header}                   |
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| *Commelina erecta* L.                                                 |
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| Plant Symbol = COER                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center

##### ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.0in" height="2.0in"}

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

whitemouth dayflower

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

Erect dayflower is said to be a preferred food source for white-tailed
deer (Chamrad & Box 1968; Drawe 1968), so it is a good plant to consider
when establishing deer food plots. Erect dayflower is also grazed by
cattle (Everitt, Drawe, & Lonard 1999). In addition, its seeds are eaten
by bobwhite quail, white-winged doves, and mourning doves (Everitt,
Drawe, & Lonard 1999). Erect dayflower can also be a good plant for
native area restoration projects.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Erect dayflower (*Commelina erecta*) is a native, perennial,
warm-season forb. A member of the spiderwort (Commelinaceae) family,
erect dayflower is said to be named for the three Commelin brothers who
were all Dutch botanists, although only two were productive in their
field. Erect dayflower's two larger petals are said to represent the two
Commelins who were published, while the third inconspicuous petal
represents the unpublished brother (Ajilvsgi 1991).

Erect dayflower has a showy blue flower that is attractive, but
ephemeral. Erect dayflower starts out erect, becoming decumbent as it
matures (Correll & Johnston 1996). There are three varieties: erecta,
deamiana, and angustifolia. Plants are highly variable and the
individual varieties are difficult to distinguish (Gleason & Cronquist
1991). Erect dayflower is often considered a weed (Correll & Johnston
1996), especially in rice fields.

*Distribution*: For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

*Habitat*: Erect dayflower can grow in both sandy and clayey soils in
almost all habitats (Ajilvsgi 1991). It is found along streambanks, in
gardens, on prairies, along roadsides, and in waste places (Jones 1982).

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

Erect dayflower can be found from New York and Wisconsin south to
Arizona and Florida, west to Wyoming, and throughout most of the eastern
United States. Variety *erecta* extends throughout most of the range of
the species, while *angustifolia* is primarily found in Texas, and
*deamiana* grows on sand dunes from Indiana and southern Michigan to
Nebraska and is sometimes found as far south and west as Texas and
Arizona (Gleason & Cronquist 1991).

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Erect dayflower can be grown from cuttings or seed. An informal
germination test conducted in the greenhouse at the Kika de la Garza PMC
yielded a germination average of 87% with approximately twelve hours of
daylight at 75 to 85ºF and twelve hours of darkness at 50 to 60ºF.
Cuttings of dayflower had about an 80% survival rate with one node and
three node stem cuttings. It is recommended that a rooting hormone be
used to encourage rapid rooting. Cuttings and seedlings can be
transplanted in 6 to 8 weeks. Irrigation is recommended, although not
critical, at drier sites to help the young plants get established. It is
recommended that young plants be at least 6 inches in height before
transplanting.

The use of plastic plant shelters is beneficial to protect young plants
from heavy grazing, reduce plant competition, and create a more
beneficial microclimate until young plants can get established.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Weed control is a problem in a dayflower plot as the leggy plants make
it difficult to remove the weeds without removing the plants. A weed mat
is recommended for situations, such as seed or plant production
plantings, where weed control is a necessity. In other situations, such
as deer food plots, weed control may not be an issue. Irrigation is
recommended during drier periods for seed and plant production
plantings.

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

The seed of erect dayflower is easy to process once harvested. However,
the prostrate and indeterminate growth form of erect dayflower results
in harvests of very small quantities of seed. This makes commercial
production of large quantities of seed uneconomical, and limits its use
for large-scale seedings and plantings.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

##### References {#references .Header-3}

Ajilvsgi, G. 1984. *Wildflowers of Texas.* Shearer Publishing,
Fredericksburg, TX.

Chamrad, A.D. & T.W. Box 1968. **"**Food habits of white-tailed deer in
south Texas." *Journal of Range Management* 21: 158-164.

Correll, D.S. & M.C. Johnston 1996. *Manual of the Vascular Plants of
Texas.* The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX.

Drawe, D.L. 1968. **"**Mid-summer diet of white-tailed deer on the
Welder Wildlife Refuge." *Journal of Range Management* 21: 164-166.

Everitt, J.H., D.L. Drawe, & R.I. Lonard 1999. *Field Guide to the
Broad-Leaved Herbaceous Plants of South Texas: Used by Livestock and
Wildlife.* Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock, TX.

Gleason, H.A. & A. Cronquist 1991. *Manual of Vascular Plants of
Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada, 2^nd^ edition.* The New
York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.

Jones, F. B. 1982. *Flora of the Texas Coastal Bend.* Welder Wildlife
Foundation, Sinton, TX.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinators:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinators .Header-3}

*John Lloyd-Reilley*, Manager

*Elizabeth Kadin*, Research Assistant

Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center

Kingsville, Texas

##### 

##### Edited 13Nov2003 JLK; 05jun06 jsp {#edited-13nov2003-jlk-05jun06-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
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origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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