Commelina elliptica aka Peruvian Spiderwort

Commelina elliptica is a small plant in the Commelinaceae family. It is a perennial, so it lives for several years. Kew gives its native range as Mexico to northern Argentina. Other accounts place its southern limit in Bolivia or Peru. Kew places it in the tropics, where dry seasons occur. Useful Tropical Plants also notes it in Mexico's mountains. The sources do not say what its exact wild habitat is.

This plant has soft growth, not wood. It grows from a tuberous rootstock, a swollen base below ground. Both garden accounts give its height as near 0.33 feet [0.1 metres]. Its short height makes it a small plant for garden beds. The species accounts do not give its full-grown spread. They give no details about leaves, stems, or flower colour. Plants For A Future lists blooms from July to September. Seeds ripen from August to October. Each flower has both male and female organs.

For garden use, choose light soil that drains well. The accounts favour loam mixed with leaf mould. Plants For A Future also lists sand-based soil as suitable. The plant accepts soil that is mildly acid or mildly alkaline. It accepts neutral soil too. It grows in sun or part shade. The growing notes favour a sunny spot with some shelter. They report success in plain soil that stays fairly moist. The same source says it tolerates both dry and moist soil.

Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 7–10. It reports survival near −10°C if frost cannot reach the roots. Winter care thus matters more than the zones alone suggest. Its notes report survival outdoors in light soil with ample mulch. Or lift the roots in autumn and store them like dahlias. Keep them in a cool place free from frost. To grow new plants, sow seed under glass in March. Seeds take about four to five weeks to sprout at 20°C. Plant seedlings outdoors after the last expected frost. Divide plants in early spring, keeping a growing bud on each piece. Cuttings taken while plants grow offer another way to raise them.

The sources list no known medical or other practical uses. They report no known hazards but do not establish pet safety. Detailed food claims rest on a related species. They do not provide firm evidence for this plant. The accounts give no pest or disease details for this species. Plants For A Future does not flag it as a potential weed.