Lance-leaf Fogfruit
Phyla lanceolata
Last reviewed: August 2026
Lance-leaf fogfruit is a low, mat-forming forb that blooms June through September with small white to pale lavender flower heads, often found in wet meadows, ditches, and floodplain soils across much of the central and eastern United States.
Toxicity unknown
Lance-leaf Fogfruit (Phyla lanceolata) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
6"–24" H × 12"–36" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, AR, AZ, CA and 31 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Lance-leaf fogfruit is a low-growing native groundcover that spreads to form dense mats. It produces small white flower clusters from summer through fall and thrives in sunny locations with average moisture.
Growing Lance-leaf Fogfruit
Grow Lance-leaf Fogfruit in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 6 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 36 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Lance-leaf Fogfruit takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Spreads aggressively and can appear weedy
- Very informal growth habit unsuitable for formal landscapes
- May be mistaken for weeds by neighbors
Wildlife value
This plant is excellent for pollinators, attracting native bees and butterflies throughout its long blooming season. The dense mat formation also provides habitat for beneficial insects.
Common questions
- When does Lance-leaf fogfruit bloom?
- Phyla lanceolata typically flowers from June through September, producing small rounded clusters of white to pale purple blooms on short stalks above its spreading foliage.
- What kind of light and soil moisture does it need?
- It grows best in full sun to part sun and prefers medium to consistently moist soil, though established plants can handle brief wet or dry spells in low-lying ground, ditches, and floodplain edges.
- Do pollinators use Lance-leaf fogfruit?
- Yes, its small nectar-rich flower heads attract a range of bees and butterflies through the summer bloom period.
- How does Lance-leaf fogfruit grow and spread?
- It is a low, mat-forming perennial that spreads by creeping stems along the ground, making it useful as a groundcover in damp, sunny sites.
- Is Lance-leaf Fogfruit HOA-friendly?
- Lance-leaf Fogfruit takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Lance-leaf Fogfruit? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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