Does anyone know much about 'Lippia' ??

The kind the butterflies like in Ohio, that is?

So far I have found out that 'frog fruit' (or is it fog fruit?) is a kind of lippia and popular in TX and FLA for butterflies, but the kind I am trying to trace will grow well in Ohio (hardy here).

I found these four kinds of Lippia seeds available from B & T World Seeds but know nothing about them....

Lippia dulcis
Lippia javanica
Lippia rehmannii
Lippia scaberrima

Chilterns also lists one kind of Lippia. 'Mexican Oregano'.

Also a Lippia lanceolata Mx referenced growing in Ohio but no mention of butterflies liking it...

Does anyone know of a source for 'Lippia' seeds that will grow in OH and attract the butterflies?? I guess that is my question!

Or a good article about Lippia and the butterflies.

Thanks so much! t.

I know it's mentioned in SO many books and I do have it in my yard....I've never seen anyone nectar on it though.
Sorry!

Adrienne

I've seen dainty sulphurs on it in the wild. In my neighbor's yard (he has more weeds than grass), I've seen what I think was a Dorantes skipper, White Peacock, and even a Gulf Frit stop on it.

Here's what my books say - frog fruit is Phyla nodiflora and is listed as the host for the Phaeon crescent. That was from my FL butterfly book. My audubon guide says the Phaeon crescent uses "fog fruit" and lists it as Lippia nodiflora and Lippia lanceolata. I'm thinking the phyla might be a synonym; don't you hate how plants get changed and reclassified all the time (yep, checked the Plant Files, it's a synonym)! Ok, the book also says the Smaller Lantana Butterfly uses L. alba and L. graviolens (but that's in TX). From the plant files it looks like L. lanceolata would grow in your zone and it would attract the Phaeon Crescent (do you get those in your area?)

Melanie

Thanks for your investigation of the Lippia, Mellie and asafla.

I could not tell if 'fog' fruit and 'frog' fruit were typo errors in my butterfly book or different words for the same fruit.

I still don't quite understand why the writer of the article I read said Lippia was a 'must have' for butterflies. Although it would be nice to get some dainty sulphurs which are not so common here in our part of the midwest. I don't know about the Phaeon Crescent, but doubt that we get it here.

I suppose I will try to get some Lippia seed and plant it in a wild part of our yard. Maybe with some red clover and see what happens. If LIppia really were that great for the butterflies, one would think that many DGers would have discovered it and have it around their yardens. So, Asafla, I will be interested to hear if you see the butterflies visiting it.

Thanks again. t.