Fog Fruit
Phyla nodiflora
Fog Fruit, Frogfruit, Turkey Tangle Fogfruit, Turkey Tangle Frogfruit, Creeping Charlie, Capeweed and other local names are used for this plant. I think most people go by Fog Fruit.
This is found throughout Florida and the southeastern states. It is commonly found in moist soils around ponds or low backyard areas and is usually treated as a weed.
Why fight it? This is great mixed with other low “weeds” like Sunshine Mimosa, Pencilflower, Corky Passionvine, Water Hyssop and Browne’s Savory.
Why not have a lawn that provides food for butterflies and other creatures instead of the usual monoculture? Fog Fruit is the larval food for the common buckeye, phaon crescent and white peacock.
A path covered with Fog Fruit may have dozens of white peacock butterflies hovering around it. Watch your step for caterpillars.
Although we associate this plant with moist soil, I have found it growing in dry sand just back from the ocean dune.
Along the west side of A1A at Juno Beach, this plant is growing on non irrigated soil with a 45 degree slope coming off the roadway. I wonder if this isn’t a separate variety since it has larger leaves too?
Many butterflies and other insects nectar on the flowers and it is used as a tea and medicine in other countries. Click for more info. I don’t see information concerning the seeds being used by birds although it is mentioned that insects attracted to the flowers attract many insect eating birds.
The white to lavender flowers, low growth and ability to handle foot traffic make this a great plant to replace lawn in sunny, dry to wet soils. Just make sure that your neighbor knows that he or she already has some in their yard and that you didn’t supply the source of “weed” seeds.