Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene

Creeping Frogfruit; Turkey Tangle; Capeweed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Creeping Frogfruit is a native herbaceous perennial in the Verbena family (Verbenaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama, but is most common in the southern half of the state. Creeping Frogfruit grows along streams and ponds, in lawns, on roadsides, and in disturbed wetlands. It is a perennial from rhizomes with creeping stems that root at the nodes. Flowering stems are upright. The stems are angled, green in color, and pubescent. The leaves are opposite, spatulate to obovate in outline with an obtuse or rounded apex. They are short petiolate or sessile, with toothed margins above the middle. The leaves are pubescent or glabrous. Flowers are produced in dense spikes from the axils of the leaves. The flowering stalks are longer than the leaves. The flowers open in whorls from the base to the apex of the spike. The corolla is white, light purple, or light pink in color with a yellow throat. The corolla has 5 lobes. The fruit separates into two nutlets. Creeping Frogfruit is available from nurseries that specialize in aquatic plants. The flowers are visited by many species of butterflies and bees, and Ducks and Geese consume the foliage and seed. Creeping Frogfruit prefers a moist soil and full sun. Creeping Frogfruit is a rapid grower and can form dense stands that exclude other vegetation.—A. Diamond

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Native FACW (NWPL)

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