Key Facts
- Prostrate perennial groundcover that forms dense mats
- Leaves small, opposite and often with a hairy or downy texture
- Produces small globular clusters of pink to purple flowers
- Spreads vegetatively by stolons or runners and also by seed
- Tolerates moist and periodically inundated soils and disturbed wet sites
- Used as an informal groundcover or turf alternative in warm climates
- Can become invasive or aggressive in suitable wet warm regions
Hairy Frogfruit is a low, mat forming perennial groundcover with small opposite leaves and compact pink to purple flower clusters. It performs well in moist sites and spreads by stolons and seed but can be aggressive in warm wet areas.
Identification
This prostrate plant forms dense mats and usually stays very low to the ground, typically a few centimeters tall. Leaves are small and often have a hairy or downy texture, arranged opposite on the stem. Flowering heads are small globular clusters that range from pink to purple and sit close to the foliage.
Best uses and where to grow
Use Hairy Frogfruit as an informal groundcover or as a low maintenance turf alternative in warm, moist landscapes where a spreading, mat forming plant is wanted. Avoid planting near natural wetlands or drainage lines where it can escape and colonize disturbed wet soils, because it can become invasive in suitable warm wet regions.
Planting and basic care
Establish plants in a sunny to partly shaded spot with consistent moisture. Prepare the bed by removing weeds and improving surface drainage if needed. Allow room for runners to spread when planting, and monitor new patches so they do not overrun adjacent beds. No special fertilizers are usually required on naturally fertile, damp sites.
Watering and soil
Hairy Frogfruit prefers moist to wet soils and tolerates poorly drained or periodically inundated ground. In dry soils plants lose vigor and small patches may die back, especially in sunny positions. It tolerates a range of textures but performs best where soil remains consistently damp rather than dry and compacted.
After flowering and maintenance
Trim back runners and mow lightly if using as a turf alternative to keep a neat surface and to limit seed set. Removing flower heads before they set seed reduces local spread. Regularly pull or lift stolons that reach unwanted areas and clear debris that can shelter new plants.
Controlling spread and invasiveness
Hairy Frogfruit spreads rapidly by runners and seed in favorable wet conditions and can form dense mats. Control options include hand pulling young runners, digging out persistent patches with roots and stolons, installing physical barriers in high risk areas and avoiding planting near waterways. Check local invasive species lists before planting.
Propagation
Propagate by division or by rooting stem cuttings, which mirrors the species natural vegetative spread by stolons. Seed will also establish plants in suitable moist sites. For planting use divisions or cuttings to reproduce an existing cultivar and to reduce the chance of spreading unwanted seed into nearby wild areas.
Frequently asked questions
- How fast does Hairy Frogfruit grow?
- Growth is often rapid in moist warm sites. It spreads by stolons and seed and can form dense mats over a season when conditions are favorable.
- Is Hairy Frogfruit invasive?
- It is listed as an invader in parts of Australia and can be aggressive in wet warm regions. Local invasive species lists should be checked before planting.
- Is it safe for pets?
- No authoritative toxicology reports were found in the consulted consumer databases, but absence of a listing is not proof of safety. Verify with regional poison control or a veterinarian for definitive guidance.
- Can I use it as a lawn alternative?
- Yes it can serve as an informal turf alternative in damp, warm sites where a low, spreading cover is acceptable and where its invasive potential can be managed.
- How do I stop it from coming back?
- Remove stolons and dig out patches including roots. Cut flower heads before seed set and maintain physical barriers or regular surveillance to catch new runners early.
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