is frog fruit compatible with wild flowers?

20 years ago

I like in north texas and want to start planting only native in my

yard. well except the veggies.

I like frog fruit and have a nice shady spot for it, but was a bit concerned after I read up on it at various websites.

It said it was invasive and can take over the yard. I surely

would not mind it taking over the grass, The yucky old bermuda grass. But will it take over any wild flowers that I plant?

Also it this a highly allergenic plant? I plan on buying

gardening for allergies, but haven't done so yet. The description of the book said the wind pollinated flowers are the worst, and flowers without petals.

Also, I can't seem to find any frog fruit seed on-line anyplace.

If anyone has any to trade. I have the following

a website that has some will also do.

that is if I like the answers I get to my questions.

about 1/2 once of black eyed susan

1/2 oz of scarlett sage

1/2 oz of blue flax

I also havevarious non gmo veggie seeds.

I could split packs with you.

if you are interested in that I could come up with a list of the actual heirloom names.

radish (long and short)

black eyed peas (california and rice)

winter squash (buttercup, sweet dumpling, and 3 others)

zuchinni

corn (white and a yellow pack)

parsley (its old though)

green beans

tom thumb peas

butter beans

rutabega

beets (cylindra and albino)

texas sweet onion (short day)

scallions

spinach (long standing I think)

melon

lemon cucumber

I also have a eastern red bud tree (not native) that drops seed

pods on the ground. I have not clue if the seeds will grow,

from the old or fresh seed pods better. I guess I should not trade with something I have no clue would grow.

Mary

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Comments (3)

Jacquelyn8b
20 years ago
Hi Mary,

I have Frog Fruit growing in full sun and it doesn't run over anyone. Cutest little plant!
It is a ground cover and it does just that - covers the ground.
mamasnail
15 years ago
This is a very charming plant and the variety of butterflies that appeared to visit it were amazing. I am smack in the center of the usa, near Kansas City, Mo. We have three wet areas, almost bogs, in the wetland flood plain area of the creek that runs through our parks. This year, disgusted with the standing stagnant water I decided to try and plant the spots with "rain garden" shrubs. Actually the only plants I introduced were native Button bush shrub seedlings and in one wet area--transplanted horsetail rushes from another area in the park. The area is often flooded with flash flood waters 1-7' deep. Mid summer I noticed Moneywort - Lysimachia nummularia had appeared, washed in on it's own. This was quickly joined by a dainty ground cover of 10-12" grass that appeared to be--and was in fact-Scirpus cernuus / Fiber-optic grass/Salt Marsh Bullrush which I had seen in garden centers and knew to be Non native. In fact it is a tropical zone plant. This was followed by a strange plant that had me totally stumped. It was also small and dainty and had an unusual flower. I suspected that it was possibly a garden pond escapee like the fiber optic grass because I had never seen anything like it. The Missouri Conservation department finally gave me the name "frog fruit" as a possibility. Searching this online tonight quickly nailed this charming mystery plant because of the flower. Online photos also solved the butterfly mystery. An assortment were visiting this wet area all summer and many were ones I had never seen before. I now recognized several of the butterflies shown on frog fruit. Several places mentioned their attraction as both a nectar and larval food source. One source said, "This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds" Possibly they meant hummingbirds because we also had an unusual number of them around these rain gardens. They seemed torn between the shaded native Jewel weed along the woodland edge and the sunny patch of rain garden. I hope this combination that Mother Nature delivered to us reappears again next summer. The largest area had only Buttonbush, moneywort, fiber optic rush and frog fruit. Because of the plant heights this seemed a perfect combination. This was full sun from 10am-5pm but never dried up all summer. The water averaged 1/2" to 2" deep. From this combination we had something blooming, even though they were all tiny, all summer. Is this global warming? So far I have seen nothing harmful or invasive with these odd little plants since they are filling a seemingly empty niche and grow well with other small plants.
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wantonamara Z8 CenTex
15 years ago
I live in Central Texas and frog fruit is quite drought and heat tolerant if given a bit of afternoon shade. It does make a good thick carpet. I think that that could be interpreted as invasive by some. I have not had a problem with it.

is frog fruit compatible with wild flowers?

Comments (3)

Jacquelyn8b

mamasnail

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wantonamara Z8 CenTex

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