Family: Commelinaceae

Commelina communis, commonly known as Asiatic daisy or Asiatic dayflower, is a low-growing, fast-spreading herb native to East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea. It is easily recognized by its soft, sprawling stems, bright green leaves, and small but striking blue flowers that bloom for a single day. Because it establishes quickly and tolerates a wide range of conditions, it has been used as an ornamental groundcover and, in parts of its native range, as a traditional medicinal plant, edible green, and natural blue dye source.

Despite its delicate appearance, Commelina communis can pose ecological concerns outside its native range. It spreads aggressively through creeping stems that root at the nodes and by abundant seed production, allowing it to form dense mats that outcompete other plants. In favorable conditions, it can behave as a weed in gardens, agricultural areas, and disturbed habitats, making it difficult to control once established. On islands like Hawaiʻi, plants with these traits have the potential to displace native vegetation and alter ecosystems, so caution is recommended and choosing low-risk or native alternatives is encouraged.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability (tropical to temperate)
  
• Naturalized globally, repeatedly introduced
  
• Agricultural, garden, and disturbance weed
  
• Tolerates varied soils and light
  
• Short life cycle; reproduces by seed and fragmentation
  
• Multiple dispersal pathways: human, water, possible bird
  
• Persistent seed bank (>4 years)
  
• Herbicide-resistant, hard to control

Low Risk Traits:

• Not an environmental transformer
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Non-parasitic
  
• Palatable to animals; non-toxic
  
• Not a fire hazard