Frogfruit Phyla nodiflora
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Lippia incisa
- Lippia nodiflora
- Description
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Turkey tangle frogfruit is a flowering groundcover in the verbena family (Verbenaceae) native to the southern half of the United States to the tropics. It can be found growing in ditches and roadways to beaches and fields.
Turkey tangle frogfruit grows low to the ground in full sun to partial shade in moist to dry soils. It tolerates most soil types, including poor drainage and saline soils. It is easy to grow, tolerating both drought and flooding.Turkey tangle frogfruit grows on 6 inches high and can spread 1 to 2 feet wide with creeping stems that root at the nodes.
During summer, tiny purple and white flowers are clustered around a cylindrical spike. The tiny leaves are thick and oval.
Use turkey tangle frogfruit as a ground cover, in a rock garden, in a butterfly garden or in a container
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phyla nodiflora
- Species:
- Phyla nodiflora
- Family:
- Verbenaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North and South America, Africa and Asia
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , AZ , CA , FL , GA , HI , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NM , NV , OK , OR , PA , SC , TX , UT , VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Larval host to Phaon Crescentspot, Buckeye, and White Peacock butterflies. Attracts pollinators.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Capsule with two nutlets
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tiny purple to white flowers are in clusters on a cylindrical spike
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Tiny, thick oval leaves with toothed margins
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Creeping stems that root at the nodes
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Wet Soil
