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Marcus, Joseph A.
Phyla nodiflora
Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene
Texas Frogfruit, Turkey Tangle Fogfruit, Frogfruit
Verbenaceae (Verbena Family)
Synonym(s): Lippia incisa, Lippia nodiflora, Lippia nodiflora var. reptans, Lippia reptans, Phyla incisa, Phyla nodiflora var. incisa, Phyla nodiflora var. longifolia, Phyla nodiflora var. nodiflora, Phyla nodiflora var. repens, Phyla nodiflora var. reptans, Phyla nodiflora var. rosea
USDA Symbol: phno2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), HI (I), PR (N), VI (N)
Texas Frogfruit can be used as an excellent ground cover and is evergreen in warm years. It is also evergreen in areas protected from frost. It spreads vigorously. Frogfruit generally is a good nectar plant for butterflies. It is an attractive plant rambling over boulders or the edges of hanging baskets. It also can tolerate drought and flooding.
This species is a member of the verbena family (family Verbenaceae), which includes about 75 genera and 3,000 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees, mostly of tropical and warm temperate regions. Among them, teak is a highly prized furniture wood, and Vervain, Lantana, Lippia or Frog Fruit, and Chase Tree or Vitex are grown as ornamentals.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Fruit Type: Schizocarp
Size Notes: Up to about 6 inches tall.
Leaf: Green, with reddish or purplish tinge in cold winters.
Fruit: Separates into 2 nutlets.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Red , PinkBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Bloom Notes: White to pink or reddish.
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , FL , GA , HI , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NM , NV , OK , OR , PA , SC , TX , UT , VANative Distribution: Southern half of the US to the tropics.
Native Habitat: Anywhere from ditches and roadways to beaches and fields.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low , MediumLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Sand, loam, clay, caliche, limestone. Poor drainage and saline soils okay.
Conditions Comments: Tolerates drought and flooding. Will go dormant during hard winters.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: A great groundcover for full sun and part shade areas, with trailing foliage and charming, mini-verbena-like flowers. Would also do well as a pot plant.Use Wildlife: Attracts numerous insect pollinators.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Phaon Crescentspot, Buckeye, and White Peacock butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Moderate
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
|
Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon)  Larval Host |
White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)  Larval Host |
Propagation
Propagation Material: Root DivisionCommercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Water in dry areas or seasons to maintain a solid cover. Do not mow while blooming, as it can take years to recover.
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
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National Wetland Indicator Status
| Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
| Status: | FAC | FACW | FACW | FACW | FAC | FAC | FACW | FAC |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Naval Air Station Kingsville - Kingsville, TX
Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX
NPSOT - Fredericksburg Chapter - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
National Butterfly Center - Mission, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Jacob's Well Natural Area - Wimberley, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX
Herbarium Specimen(s)
NPSOT 0676 Collected Jul 18, 1992 in Bandera County by Harry CliffeNPSOT 0179 Collected May 15, 1991 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry
NPSOT 0535 Collected Jul 28, 1987 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0405 Collected Jun 6, 1993 in Comal County by Mary Beth White
NPSOT 0612 Collected May 30, 1992 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
Bibliography
Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona ChapterResearch Literature
Reslit 1247 - Ecological studies to assess the efficacy of biological control on populations of alligator weed and lippia (2006) S. Schooler, C. Clech-Goods and M. JulienReslit 1558 - Accumulation of Pb, Cu, and Zn in native plants growing on a contaminated Florida site (2006) J. Yoon, X. D. Cao, Q. X. Zhou and L. Q. Ma
Reslit 2002 - On the diversity in the development and organization of stomata in Phyla Nodiflora Michx. (1964) D. D. Pant and P. Kidwai
Reslit 2028 - Occurrence of salt glands in Phyla nodiflora Greene--a facultative halophyte (1990) A. N. Maury and A. K. Gupta
Reslit 2089 - Life history and biology of Phyciodes phaon (Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae) (2003) H. Genc, J. L. Nation and T. C. Emmel
Reslit 2462 - Ethnopharmacological application of medicinal plants to cure skin diseases and in folk cosmetics among the tribal communities of North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan (2010) A. M. Abbasi, M. A. Khan, M. Ahmad, M. Zafar, S. J...
This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
Search More Titles in Research Literature
Additional resources
USDA: Find Phyla nodiflora in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Phyla nodiflora in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Phyla nodiflora
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-23Research By: TWC Staff