Phyla nodiflora (Lippia nodiflora) - Frogfruit

The Phyla nodiflora, commonly known as Frogfruit and specified in tender documents as Lippia nodiflora, is a flat, creeping perennial of warm regions worldwide. It roots at every node into a tight ground-hugging mat of small, toothed, dark green leaves, studded through the warm months with small lilac and white flowerheads on short stalks. It is used as a low-water alternative to mown turf in ornamental areas, taking light foot traffic and needing no mowing at all. It is used for lawn substitution, verge and median cover, slope stabilisation and paving joint planting. Specifications: Height: 0.05 to 0.15 metres Width: Indefinite, rooting at every node as it spreads Native to: Warm regions worldwide, including the Americas, Africa, southern Asia and Australia Foliage: Small, toothed, dark green leaves on creeping rooting stems; evergreen in warm climates Growth rate: Fast Conditions: Soil: Accepts sandy, loamy, clay and mildly saline soils; adaptable and undemanding Light: Full sun to partial shade Water: Low; drought-tolerant once the mat has closed and far less thirsty than mown turf Climate: Thrives in hot arid, subtropical, tropical and coastal regions Additional Features: Flowers: Small lilac and white flowerheads on short stalks, carried through the warm months across the mat Uses: Lawn substitution in ornamental areas, verge and median cover, slope stabilisation, paving joint and stepping stone planting Spacing: Plant 0.25 to 0.35 metres apart for a closed mat within one season Low Maintenance: Needs no mowing; trim at hard edges only, and it takes light foot traffic without damage Pest Resistance: Free of significant pest and disease problems Drought Tolerance: Good once established, browning off in extreme drought and recovering quickly Erosion Control: The rooting mat binds slopes, verges and disturbed soil surfaces effectively Wildlife Attraction: A well-known butterfly and bee plant, worked heavily while in flower Frogfruit is the practical answer where a scheme wants a green, flowering surface without the water and the mowing that turf demands.