Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden

Phyla nodiflora

Latin name: Phyla nodiflora

Common name: Turkey Tangle Frogfruit

Flowers: White to pink mini verbena-like flowers10,20,21

Fruit or cones: Small nutlets which are rather inconspicious10,21

Height & Width: Around 6″ tall will spread 3ft+ in a growing season10,20

Type: Perennial, evergreen in mild winters10, 20

Habit: Groundcover10,20,21

Wetland indicator category**: FAC10

Texture: Medium 21

Growth rate: Fast10,20,21

Light: Sun to part shade10

Moisture: Tolerates wet or dry soils21

Soil*: Sand, loam, clay, caliche, limestone. Poor drainage and saline soils10

Zones: 6-1121

Origin: Southern half of United States, West Indies, Mexico, Central America, and South America21

Ecosystem benefits: Larval host for Common Buckeye, Phaon Crescent, and White Peacock butterflies21. Nectar source for many other pollinators such as bees and moths10,21.

Pests: Plants are relatively pest resistant if cultural preferences are met10,20,21.

Author: Ryan Schiller

A)

Image Source:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=phno2

B)

Image Source:
https://plantscomprehensive.com/phyla-nodiflora-aka-lippia-and-aka-kurapia-if-japanese-bred-lineage

Turkey Tangle Frogfruit is an insanely tough and vigorous plant, tolerating both moist and dry soils10,20. The nonstop mini verbena-like blooms provide pollinators with abundant nectar21. In warm winters and warmer regions, it will even bloom all year round21. It can be used as a “living mulch” if desired20. Frogfruit also makes a low maintenance turf alternative10,21.

Siting: Phyla nodiflora thrives in a wide variety of sites as long as it receives at least around 3-4 hours of direct sun10. It can take moist to dry soils and even occasional salt water inundation21.

Care: Plant crown at soil level18. At planting, water the roots and surrounding area
slowly and deeply. Keep soil moist until plant is established, then apply enough water to
thoroughly moisten the root zone when the soil is dry or during drought. Modify water
recommendations to reflect site drainage and rainfall. Apply 3” of mulch over the planted area.
Do not allow mulch to touch the plant stems18. If used as a turf alternative do not mow while in bloom10.

Pests: Plants are relatively pest resistant if cultural preferences are met10,20,21.

This plant does not appear on the following invasive plant lists on (10/15/2023):

X
USDA SC Invasive Plant Species Web site

X
SC Exotic Plant Pest Council Web site

Sources:

  1. Armitage, A. (2001). Armitage’s manual of annuals, biennials, and half-hardy perennials. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
  2. Armitage, A. (2006). Armitage’s native plants for North American gardens. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press.
  3. Armitage, A. (2008). Herbaceous perennial plants: A treatise on their identification, culture, and garden attributes. Athens, GA: University of Geogia.
  4. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Flowers fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/flowers/
  5. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Groundcovers & vines fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/groundcovers/
  6. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Trees. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/trees/
  7. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Shrubs. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/shrubs/
  8. Dirr, M. A. (2009). Manual of woody landscape plants. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing.
  9. Gilman, E. F. (1997). Trees for urban and suburban landscapes. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.
  10. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center University of Texas at Austin. (2012). Native plant information network. Retrieved from http://www.wildflower.org/explore/
  11. McMillan, P., Plant taxonomist Clemson University, personal communication.
  12. Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Plant finder. Retrieved from http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Alpha.asp
  13. North Carolina State University (2005). Plant fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/index.html
  14. Strother, E. V., Ham, D. L., Gilland, L. (2003) Urban tree species guide: Choosing the right tree for the right place. Columbia, SC: South Carolina Forestry Commission.
  15. University of Florida, IFAS Extension. (2011). Southern trees fact sheet. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/department_envhort-trees
  16. USDA. Plant profile. (n/d).Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/java/
  17. USDA. Plant wetland indicator status. (n/d). Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/wetland.html
  18. Vincent, E., Environmental horticulturist Clemson University, personal communication.
  19. Clemson Extension. Carolina Yards Plant Database. Retrieved from https://www.clemson.edu/extension/carolinayards/plant-database/index.html
  20. Schiller, R., Horticulture Student Clemson University, personal experience
  21. University of Florida, IFAS Extension, (2021), Frogfruit, Phyla nodiflora Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/monroe/docs/Frogfruit-Phyla-nodiflora.pdf

*Soil pH is determined using a professional soil test. Contact your Clemson University County Extension service for assistance www.clemson.edu/extension/. Click on “local offices”.

**2012 Plant Wetland Indicator categories (quantitative derived) http://plants.usda.gov/wetinfo.html
Plant Wetland Indicator categories
Indicator Code Indicator Status Comment
OBL Obligate Wetland Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands
FACW Facultative Wetland Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands
FAC Facultative Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte
FACU Facultative Upland Occasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands
UPL Obligate Upland Rarely is a hydrophyte, almost always in uplands