Phyla Nodiflora or Repens, an easily grown herb used in the kitchen for its fresh lemony aroma.
This plant is also known as “Frog Fruit” or “Turkey Tangle” and is often used to brighten up patios and gardens.
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Phyla Nodiflora, or Phyla Repens, is an ornamental “ground cover” herb that is highly appreciated for its beauty and marvelous scent.
The plant is also commonly called “Frog Fruit” or “Turkey Tangle” and is a small herb that belongs to the Verbenaceae family.
RB Plant from Albenga grows Phyla Nodiflora as a part of their high-quality, intensely flavoured, natural Sunny heRBs range that is exclusively “made in Albenga”.
Originating in South America and now well established in Europe and in Italy, Phyla Nodiflora prefers areas with a mild climate.
This herb has a ground covering or drooping behaviour and demonstrates rapid horizontal growth, quickly covering large areas.
Phyla Nodiflora’s leaves are positioned in opposing pairs along the stems and their colour ranges from blue to green, tending towards brownish when subject to rigid winter temperatures.
The small flowers appear in late spring and can be yellow, purple and dark or pale pink in colour. The highly perfumed flowers have a delicate five-petal corolla and are very popular with bees and butterflies.
Phyla Nodiflora: growing
It is easy to grow Phyla Nodiflora as the plant readily adapts to all kinds of terrain, even though it prefers dry, well drained and nutrient-rich soils. This herb is grown both in pots on balconies and patios and in the garden as an ornamental plant to use in the kitchen.
This freshly perfumed and flavoured herb requires copious sunlight so ideally it should be located in a sunny position and, even though it can tolerate low temperatures, be protected from winter frosts.
Phyla Nodiflora does not require excessive watering, in fact it can survive with rainwater, but it is important to regularly check that the terrain is not completely dry. During the flowering period and throughout the summer the amount of water should be increased slightly.
Phyla Nodiflora: Culinary use
The delightful lemon aroma of Frog Fruit or Turkey Tangle or Phyla Nodiflora means that it is often used in the kitchen to flavour foods and enhance the true flavours.
It is a perfect addition to stuffing and to add flavour to meat, fish and chicken dishes. It is also particularly useful with game dishes as a way of softening the often disliked “wild” aftertaste. Widely used in salads, fruit salads and ice creams, Phyla Nodiflora is also often used to prepare jellies, jams, fruit cakes, herbal liqueurs and sorbets.
Phyla Nodiflora: Fun facts
In the Greek language this plant is known as “Lippia” which means “tribe”. Do you know why?
The flowers of Phyla Nodiflora grow in such tightly fitting groups that from afar they look like a large tribe of little colours.
Do you like the flavour of Phyla Nodiflora and do you like to use herbs in your cooking?
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