Can anyone identify this plant/weed and how can it be controlled?

Dayflower (Commelina)

I have no clue on what's an effective control. I've never managed, that's for sure. On the other hand, I like the way it looks when its growing well and putting on masses of those true blue flowers. I mainly just continually pull of the above ground growth in those areas where I dont want it. Temporary, but it's just about impossible to get all the roots pulled up. I've never tried an chemical control. to ATP.

I have these these in yard sporadically. They love heat , and also are very drought tolerant and deep rooted weeds. Only control I know so far is pulling whole plants from soil with roots altogether and make sure they are placed in trash can. If you leave the roots pieces in soil, they will sprout again.

Asiatic dayflower I believe, invasive yes, apparently has become adaptable even in the NE, for some of us, at least it is green and without stickers in the yard.

kittriana said:Asiatic dayflower I believe, invasive yes, apparently has become adaptable even in the NE, for some of us, at least it is green and without stickers in the yard.

More likely Commelina erecta, which is a native wildflower. I can't say 100% without seeing the spathe, but that is what it probably is.

Another commelina, Jay his bloom has mouse ears for a bloom, not an almost full circle of bloom, erecta also stands taller and is less apt to fill in as a ground cover- is more apt to be clumps.

kittriana said:Another commelina, Jay his bloom has mouse ears for a bloom, not an almost full circle of bloom, erecta also stands taller and is less apt to fill in as a ground cover- is more apt to be clumps.

The only way to know for sure is to see the spathe which is not clearly visible in the photo.

No one has addressed how to control Commelina, the other part of @deanbell his question. Other than digging it out, I've never tried any other method. Digging doesn't work very well since even a small piece of root left will make a new plant and the roots are very brittle, breaking off easily. Anyone have any suggestions?

I've always tried to encourage it, not control so I have no idea.

Horntoad said:I've always tried to encourage it, not control so I have no idea.

I do that too if it's in the right location. It's extraordinarily attractive as a plant. Nice foliage, a true blue bloom, not subject to insect damage. It would be an ideal plant if it weren't for its habit of growing everywhere including places where it's not welcome. I find it so attractive that it's not a plant that has ever gotten much effort toward eradicating. I always have spots of it that look like this one in the photo.

I live in or nearby Houston and I have tons of plants that do the same thing, nothing really works. NOTHING. It always returns. It seems to be tougher than the poisons, more patient than a robin watching for earthworms in Spring. You cannot win.

I agree, especially if you let it flower that produce seeds. Seeds and Roots of this plant seem to live in soil forever. It is like a nutsedge, I never win against these two weedy plants.