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Tropical Spiderwort

Commelina benghalensis

Non-Native

Tropical Spiderwort Locations in North America
Tropical Spiderwort Locations in Southeast US
tropical spiderwort top view
Sekh Sayantan, Burdwan Eco Garden, Bugwood.org

tropical spiderwort side view
Theodore Webster, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org
tropical spiderwort full view
Jean Burns, Florida State University, Bugwood.org

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

What is Tropical Spiderwort?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Oval-shaped
  • 1.18-2.76 inches long
  • 0.39-1.57 inches wide
  • Reddish hairs close to tip

Flowers:

Above Ground:

  • Light purple to blue in color
  • Very small

Under Ground:

  • White
  • Very small

Seeds:

  • Large & small above and below ground

Stem:

  • Up to 3 feet long
  • Rooting from nodes

Where Does it Grow?

Non-Native

Tropical spiderwort can be found in the moist soils of fields, grasslands, roadsides and pastures.

Is it Invasive?

Tropical spiderwort is non-native to North America and is an aggressive invader that should not be spread.

This plant is not native to North America, but has naturalized in much of the United States. While it is not illegal to possess this plant in Texas, it should not be introduced into new water bodies and should be treated with herbicide when present.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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