Phyla nodiflora
 
Common Names Turkey Tangle Frogfruit, Creeping Charlie, Capeweed, Fogfruit
 
Zones 6–11
 
A low-growing, mat-forming native of the southern U.S., Caribbean, and tropical Americas, Phyla nodiflora is a resilient groundcover prized for its pollinator value and turfgrass-replacement potential. Found naturally in coastal prairies, hammocks, and disturbed sites, it spreads by rooting at nodes and tolerates drought, foot traffic, and poor soils. Its tiny white and purple flowers bloom nearly year-round in warm climates, attracting butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Prostrate, creeping perennial; roots at nodes; forms dense mats
Height: Typically 1–3 in (2.5–7.5 cm); up to 6 in in flower
Leaves: Opposite; elliptic to obovate; ~1 in long; toothed near apex; smooth texture
Bark: Herbaceous stems; woody at base in mature plants
Flowers: Tiny; white to pinkish petals with purple center; held in cylindrical heads on short stalks; bloom year-round in frost-free zones
Fruit: Nutlets; clustered; available year-round; dispersed by gravity and water
Ecology: Host plant for Common Buckeye and White Peacock butterflies; attracts bees, moths, and syrphid flies2
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to part shade
Watering: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
Soil: Sandy, loamy, rocky, or compacted; tolerates poor soils and limestone
Temperature: Hardy to ~0°F (–18°C); evergreen in frost-free zones
Humidity: High tolerance; thrives in coastal and subtropical climates
Propagation: Cuttings or division; stolons root easily
Tolerance: Heat, drought, foot traffic, mowing, salt wind
 
Landscape Use Ideal for native lawns, erosion control, and pollinator gardens. Use in rain gardens, between stepping stones, or as a turfgrass alternative in restoration zones. Pairs well with Mimosa strigillosa, Helianthus debilis, and Passiflora suberosa.