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Botanical name: Phyla nodiflora var. incisa
A semi-evergreen perennial groundcover with creeping stems that root from the nodes; produces upright flower stems with clusters of white blooms from spring to fall; foliage is dense, green, and toothed; a rapid grower that can form dense stands.
Other names: Frog Fruit, Turkey Tangle, syn. Lippia incisa
| Hardiness zone | 7a |
|---|---|
| Flower color | white |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | trailing |
| Mature height | 8 inches |
| Spread | 4 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun to partial shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | Texas Native |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Texas Frogfruit features dainty clusters of white flowers with fuchsia eyes at the ends of the stems from mid spring to mid fall. Its attractive serrated narrow leaves remain light green in color throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Texas Frogfruit is a dense herbaceous perennial with a trailing habit of growth, eventually spilling over the edges of hanging baskets and containers. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Spreading
Texas Frogfruit is recommended for the following landscape applications;
General Garden Use, Groundcover, Container Planting
Texas Frogfruit will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 3 feet apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of our region, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.
Texas Frogfruit is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its trailing habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
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