Whitemouth Dayflower: A Lesser-Known Native Wildflower Worth Discovering
If you’re looking to expand your native plant palette beyond the usual suspects, the whitemouth dayflower (Commelina erecta var. deamiana) might just be the hidden gem you’ve been searching for. This perennial wildflower represents one of nature’s more understated beauties, though it comes with its fair share of mysteries that even botanists are still unraveling.
What Is Whitemouth Dayflower?
Whitemouth dayflower is a native North American perennial that belongs to the dayflower family. As a forb—basically a fancy botanical term for a non-woody herbaceous plant—it lacks the substantial stems of shrubs and trees but makes up for it with its own unique charm. You might also encounter it listed under the synonym Commelina erecta var. greenei in some older botanical references.
Where Does It Grow Naturally?
This native plant calls a surprisingly large swath of the United States home. You’ll find whitemouth dayflower growing naturally across the American heartland and beyond, including:
- Southwestern states: Arizona and New Mexico
- South-central region: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas
- Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin
This impressive geographic range suggests that whitemouth dayflower is quite adaptable to different growing conditions across diverse climates and ecosystems.
The Mystery Plant: What We Know and Don’t Know
Here’s where things get interesting—and a bit frustrating for plant enthusiasts. Whitemouth dayflower is one of those native plants that seems to have flown under the radar of both botanists and gardeners alike. While we know it’s a perennial forb native to multiple states, many details about this specific variety remain unclear or undocumented in readily available sources.
What we don’t yet have reliable information about includes its specific growing conditions, mature size, appearance details, pollinator relationships, and cultivation requirements. This isn’t uncommon with lesser-known plant varieties, especially those that may have limited distribution or haven’t been extensively studied for horticultural use.
Should You Grow Whitemouth Dayflower?
The decision to grow whitemouth dayflower comes down to your gardening philosophy and tolerance for uncertainty. Here are some considerations:
Reasons to consider it: As a native plant with such a wide natural distribution, it likely supports local ecosystems in ways we haven’t fully documented yet. Native plants typically require less water and maintenance once established, and they often provide food and habitat for local wildlife.
Reasons to hesitate: The lack of detailed growing information means you’d be somewhat experimenting. Without knowing its mature size, growth rate, or specific needs, planning your garden space becomes challenging.
The Challenge of Growing an Enigma
If you’re determined to try growing whitemouth dayflower, you’ll need to embrace your inner plant detective. Since specific cultivation information for this variety isn’t readily available, you might consider:
- Contacting local native plant societies in states where it naturally occurs
- Reaching out to botanical gardens or university extension programs in its native range
- Connecting with specialty native plant nurseries that might have experience with this variety
Given its wide geographic distribution, whitemouth dayflower likely tolerates a range of conditions, but without specific data, successful cultivation would require careful observation and adaptation.
A Plant for the Future
Whitemouth dayflower represents one of many native plants that deserve more attention from both researchers and gardeners. While we can’t provide specific growing guides today, increased interest in lesser-known natives like this one often leads to better documentation and availability over time.
If you’re passionate about native plants and don’t mind some uncertainty, whitemouth dayflower could be an intriguing addition to your garden—just be prepared for some detective work along the way. And who knows? You might just become one of the first gardeners to document successful cultivation techniques for this understudied native beauty.
