Skip to content
Frog Fruit (Phyla nodiflora), also known as Texas frogfruit or turkey tangle fogfruit, is a familiar creeping groundcover in many landscapes. With its fast, dense growth habit and pretty white flowers, frog fruit makes an excellent lawn substitute and groundcover plant. Beyond ornamental uses, frogfruit has a long history in herbal medicine and culinary traditions in its native regions.
As a versatile creeping perennial, frog fruit has much to offer for gardens and landscapes. This guide covers everything you need to know about the uses, cultivation, and unique traits of Phyla nodiflora.
Understanding Frogfruit
Definition and Botanical Characteristics
Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is a herbaceous perennial plant in the Verbenaceae family. Other common names for this species include turkey tangle fogfruit, carpet weed, and matgrass.
The frog fruit plant produces branching stems with small slender leaves at nodes along the stems. The leaves are smooth, oval, and bright green. From spring to fall, frogfruit produces many clusters of tiny white or pinkish flowers. Each flower has five petals and forms a rounded fruit capsule containing one to four seeds.
History and Origin
Frogfruit is native to warm regions from the southern United States to Argentina. In the United States, frogfruit grows wild in areas like Florida, Texas, and surrounding states. It has an extensive history of medicinal and culinary use among Native American tribes of these regions.
Early Spanish settlers called it “yerba de sapo” meaning “frog’s herb” since frogs were often found sheltering beneath its dense mat-like growth. The common name “frogfruit” emerged from this observation.
Ecological Significance
Role in the Ecosystem
As a hardy creeping plant that grows in dense mats, frog fruit plays a few different ecological roles:
- Provides groundcover and stabilization for soils
- Traps moisture and maintains cooler soil temperatures
- Contributes organic matter as leaves decompose each year
- Offers shelter and habitat for small wildlife
- Serves as larval and nectar plants for butterflies
With pretty, nectar-rich flowers, frog fruit attracts pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The seeds provide food for some birds and small mammals. Frogfruit’s dense growth provides protective cover for frogs, lizards, and ground-nesting insects.
By enriching soil nutrients, frogfruit facilitates the growth of neighboring plants. As a hardy creeper adapted to many environments, it plays an important role in both wild and cultivated ecosystems.
Uses and Benefits
Medicinal Properties
For centuries, Native American tribes used frog fruit for treating digestive issues, fever, cough, sore throat, wounds, and snake bites. Traditional medicinal uses indicate frog fruit may have antimicrobial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects.
While few modern studies exist, initial research shows compounds in frog fruit may combat drug-resistant bacteria and fungi. More studies are needed to understand frogfruit’s medicinal benefits.
Landscaping and Gardening
Thanks to its rapid, dense growth habit, frog fruit serves beautifully as a drought-resistant lawn substitute and flowing groundcover. In humid warm climates, frog fruit makes a lush green carpet within one growing season.
With pretty flowers and the ability to grow under trees and shrubs, frog fruit works well as an ornamental groundcover combined with other plants. Once established, frogfruit effectively prevents weed growth and controls erosion on slopes or disturbed soils.
Use frogfruit as a lawn alternative in yards, parks, road medians, and slopes. Allow it to gracefully cascade over container gardens and decorative pots. Frogfruit adds texture and wildlife habitat to cultivated landscapes.
Growing and Caring for Frogfruit
Planting Guidelines
Frogfruit can be planted from seeds, cuttings, or transplants. Spring is the ideal planting time once all danger of frost has passed. Fall planting is also suitable in warm climates.
Select a site with full sun exposure and fertile, well-draining soil. Loamy or sandy soils are preferable, but frogfruit tolerates most soils with adequate fertility and pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Improve drainage in clay soils before planting.
For seeds, barely cover with soil and water lightly daily to maintain moisture. Germination occurs within two weeks. Transplants are established quickly with consistent watering in the first two months. Space plants 12-18 inches apart.
Maintenance and Care
Established frogfruit tolerates drought, but maintains the best appearance with regular irrigation. Increase watering frequency for the first two months after planting transplants. Soak soil thoroughly then allow to mostly dry out before watering again.
Apply a balanced organic fertilizer or compost tea monthly during the active growing season. Prune lightly after flowering to encourage a thicker carpet of growth. Remove dead leaves and stems over time to improve air circulation.
Common pests include aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Diseases are rare but watch for fungal leaf spots if overcrowded. Maintain proper fertilization, pruning, and plant spacing to prevent most problems. Further pest or disease issues can be controlled through organic sprays.
Harvesting and Utilization
Harvesting Techniques
Harvest frog fruit leaves and stems throughout the growing season as needed for direct use in herbal preparations or drying. Pruning shears or scissors work well.
For fresh eating, pick tender new leaves and shoot tips before the plant flowers. Harvesting increases stem production for an abundant carpet of young shoots.
To propagate new plants, frog fruit stems root easily from cuttings taken in spring or summer. These stem cuttings will develop into full plants within one season if kept consistently moist.
Preservation and Storage
After harvest, use fresh frog fruit right away or preserve it through drying techniques for future herbal and culinary use. Carefully wash and thoroughly dry all harvested plant parts. Discard any diseased or damaged parts.
The most common method is air-drying bundles of tied stems in a warm, dry area out of direct sunlight. As an alternative, use a dehydrator set to 95°F to 115°F. Drying times range from a few hours in a dehydrator up to two weeks with air drying.
Store thoroughly dried frog fruit in sealed glass jars kept in a cool, dark place. Properly dried leaves retain medicinal properties and culinary flavor for up to one year.
Conclusion
With its quickly spreading growth habit and toughness, frog fruit is a champion creeping groundcover suited to a diversity of environments. Beyond ornamental uses, frog fruit has a long history of herbal medicine and culinary traditions dating back centuries.
This unfussy plant stabilizes soil, resists drought and foot traffic, adds beauty to landscapes, and attracts pollinators with pretty flowers. Frogfruit has much to offer in the garden whether grown for visual appeal or herbal benefits. Give Frogfruit a try in your own outdoor space this coming season!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frogfruit Edible?
Yes, frogfruit has a long history of culinary use! Both the leaves and tender shoot tips can be used fresh or dried for teas, seasonings, and herbal folk remedies. Frogfruit has a mild spinach-like taste when harvested young.
How Fast Does Frogfruit Spread?
Under ideal warm, humid conditions, frog fruit spreads rapidly to form a dense carpet. It can spread over one square foot every 2-4 weeks. The growth rate slows during winter dormancy or dry weather. Regular pruning encourages faster spread.
Can Frogfruit Grow in Shade?
While frogfruit prefers full sun, it can tolerate partial shade. Growth may be slower and more sparse without adequate sunlight. A minimum of 4-6 hours of direct sun per day is recommended for the healthiest frog fruit growth.
Is Frogfruit Drought Tolerant?
Yes! Once established, mature frog fruit has excellent drought tolerance. Its resilient creeping stems enable it to go dormant and then quickly rebound after dry periods. Supplemental irrigation will be needed for the first two months after planting transplants.
How to Control Frogfruit Overgrowth?
To prevent aggressive spread beyond desired boundaries, prune frog fruit frequently. Uproot wayward stems and keep surrounding areas clear of debris that stems could take root in. Sheet mulching with cardboard or landscape fabric also effectively blocks expansion.
