Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Section: Common Name: Scientific Name: Family:
Account for Creeping Dayflower - Commelina diffusa   Burman fils
Members of Commelinaceae:
Members of Commelina with account distribution info or public map:
Google Images
Section 5 » Order Commelinales » Family Commelinaceae
Show/Hide Synonym
AuthorBurman fils
DistributionMostly the lower Piedmont and outer Coastal Plain, but scattered elsewhere except in the Mountains.

Native of the tropics; in N.A. the southeastern and south-central states. Note that Weakley (2022) considers it likely native in the Southeastern states, including NC. However, the Digital Atlas of Virginia Flora lists it as Introduced there, in all counties where recorded; the website editors also consider it as likely introduced across NC.
AbundanceUncommon in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, apparently absent in the Mountains.
HabitatMoist to wet soils of river shores, backup channels, margins of beaver ponds, creeksides, streambanks, woodland paths. It can occur in dry soils in the Piedmont.
PhenologyFlowering and fruiting June-October.
IdentificationCreeping Dayflower has all-blue flowers, the spathe margins are free to the base, and the lower margin of the spathe is curved. It might appear to be a native species, as it can occur in natural habitats, but it is a native of the Tropics.
Taxonomic Comments
Other Common Name(s)
State RankSE *
Global RankG5
State Status
US Status
USACE-agcpFACW link
USACE-empFACW link
County Map - click on a county to view source of record.
Photo Gallery
photographercommentsphoto_linkcountyobsType
B.A. SorrieDisturbed margin of Deep River, old dam site, Carbonton, Sept 2015. LeePhoto_non_natural
Select a source
AllHerbaria
Individual
Select an occurrence type
AllCollection_non_naturalPhoto_non_naturalOther_non_natural