Phyla nodiflora
| Phyla nodiflora | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 10 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Phyla nodiflora (common name: frogfruit)
Propagation: Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the middle of spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring or early summer.
If trying to grow this plant as a perennial do not plant them out the first spring but grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring.
Cultivation: Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position[1]. Prefers a moderately fertile soil, but succeeds in soils of low fertility[1]. Prefers ample moisture according to one report[2], whilst another says that, once established, it is drought tolerant[1]. When grown in shade the plant makes a lot of vegetative growth but does not flower well[2].
This species is not very hardy in Britain, though it can be grown outdoors as a half-hardy annual in this country[3]. Plants tolerate temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[2] though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters.
Range: E. Asia - China to Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria. S. America.
Habitat: Near the coast in Australia[4]. A ommon weed in the warmer areas of China, where it grows along stream banks and in grassy places at elevations of 300 - 2300 metres[5].
Edibility: Leaves[6][7]. No more details are given.
The fresh leaves are used as a tea substitute. A grassy flavour, it is nothing special[6].
Medicinal: The plant is anodyne, antibacterial, deobstruent, diuretic, emmenagogue, parasiticide and refrigerant[8]. It is used in the treatment of hookworm[8]. The juice of the plant is cooling and is used to relieve fevers, coughs and colds[9]. The aroma of the inhaled plant is breathed in to treat coughs and colds[9].
The juice of the root is used in the treatment of gastric troubles[9].
Usage: A good ground cover for dry sunny banks[1], this plant has been used as a grass substitute for lawns in tropical areas, though it would probably not tolerate heavy traffic[2][1].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Lippia nodiflora. Verbena nodiflora. Zapania nodiflora.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Ewart, Alfred. Recording Census of the Victorian Flora. 1923.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.