Common Name:

General Information

Commelina tuberosa is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial plant with a tuberous rootstock. It grows about 10cm tall.
The edible tubers are sometimes gathered from the wild and used locally. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Bolivia and Peru, north through Central America to Mexico. Also in Argentina.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.10 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Commelina tuberosa can succeed in a wide range of climatic conditions, with its range extending from tropical America to the warm temperate regions of Mexico. The plant is not very winter hardy, however, being able to survive temperatures down to about -10°c if given a good mulch and the roots are protected from freezing[]. In temperate regions the roots are best dug up in the autumn and stored like dahlia tuberss in a cool frost free place and then planted out in spring[]. When grown in a light well-drained soil and mulched well, the roots will usually survive the winter outdoors in the milder regions of the temperate zone[].
Prefers a light well-drained loam with added leafmold[]. Succeeds in an ordinary, reasonably moist soil in a sunny position with some shelter[].
A very ornamental plant[].

Edible Uses

Tubers - cooked. Rich in starch[, ], but with a fairly bland flavour.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 4 - 5 weeks at 20°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in early spring. Make sure that each portion has at least one growing bud[, ].
Cuttings during the growing season. Very easy[].