General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 8-12 inches
Plant Spread: 24-36 inches
Fruit: Edible to birds
Dehiscent
Other: 2-3 celled capsule, each section containing a smooth brown seed.
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Blue
Other: Two large, showy blue petals and 1 smaller white petal.
Bloom Size: Under 1"
1"-2"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Uses: Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Division
Pollinators: Bees
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation status:
Conservation status: Least Concern
Image
Common names
  • Day flower
  • Whitemouth dayflower
  • Widow's tears
  • Slender Dayflower
  • Scrub Dayflower

Photo Gallery
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2017-08-10
Location: Garland (Dallas), TX
Date: 2012-10-03
Was a 'free rider' gift in a pot of peonies from Arkansas.  Think
Location: Paraty, Brazil
Date: 2010-01-27
rainforest area
Location: My yard in Arlington, Texas.
Date: Spring 2010
This flower closes by noon.
Location: Paraty, Brazil
Date: 2010-01-27
Location: Paraty, Brazil
Date: 2010-01-27
Location: Medina Co., Texas
Date: May 23, 2012
Widow's Tears

Photo courtesy of: davidbygott
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-09-29
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-09-24
Comments:
  • Posted by Johannian (The Black Hills, SD - Zone 4b) on Jan 11, 2022 8:47 PM concerning plant:
    Range: southern Arizona to eastern Colorado and Wyoming; south to New Mexico and Texas; eastern United States. Additional info: this is a highly variable species. The Spanish common name (Hierba de Pollo) means "herb of the (cooked) chicken".

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