Honeyherb: The Sweet Native Ground Cover You Need to Know
Meet honeyherb (Phyla dulcus), a delightfully sweet native plant that’s been flying under the radar of most gardeners. Also known as Aztec sweetherb or Mexican lippia, this charming perennial offers a unique combination of ornamental beauty and culinary usefulness that makes it a fantastic addition to warm-climate gardens.
What Makes Honeyherb Special?
Honeyherb is a low-growing perennial that forms an attractive spreading mat of aromatic foliage topped with tiny white flower spikes. But here’s where it gets interesting – the leaves contain a natural compound that’s incredibly sweet, making them a fascinating sugar substitute and herbal tea ingredient. It’s like having nature’s candy growing right in your garden!
Where Does Honeyherb Call Home?
This native beauty is naturally found in southern Florida and Puerto Rico, where it thrives in the warm, humid subtropical climate. As a true native of the lower 48 states and Puerto Rico, honeyherb is perfectly adapted to these regions and supports local ecosystems.
Garden Appeal and Design Potential
Honeyherb brings several attractive qualities to garden spaces:
- Dense, spreading ground cover habit that fills spaces beautifully
- Small but abundant white flowers arranged in compact spikes
- Aromatic foliage that releases a pleasant scent when brushed against
- Year-round interest in frost-free climates
- Unique sweet-tasting leaves for culinary adventures
Perfect Garden Companions
Honeyherb shines in several garden settings:
- Herb gardens – A conversation starter with its incredibly sweet leaves
- Butterfly gardens – Provides nectar for butterflies and other small pollinators
- Native plant landscapes – Supports local wildlife while requiring minimal care
- Ground cover applications – Fills in spaces with attractive, functional foliage
- Container gardens – Works beautifully in pots for easy harvesting
Pollinator and Wildlife Benefits
While honeyherb may look unassuming, it’s actually a pollinator powerhouse! The small white flowers are rich in nectar and attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. As a native species, it has co-evolved with local wildlife and provides authentic habitat value that exotic plants simply can’t match.
Growing Conditions and Care
The good news? Honeyherb is refreshingly easy to grow if you can provide the right conditions:
Climate Requirements: Hardy in USDA zones 9b through 11, honeyherb needs consistently warm temperatures and is sensitive to frost.
Sun and Soil: Provide full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. While adaptable to various soil types, it performs best in moderately fertile, well-draining ground.
Water Needs: Moderate water requirements – keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Once established, it shows good drought tolerance.
Planting and Care Tips
Getting started with honeyherb is straightforward:
- Planting: Space plants 12-18 inches apart to allow for spreading
- Establishment: Water regularly for the first few weeks until roots are established
- Maintenance: Very low maintenance once established – occasional watering during dry spells
- Harvesting: Pick leaves as needed for culinary use – they’re sweetest in the morning
- Spreading: Can spread via runners, which makes it excellent ground cover but easy to control
Is Honeyherb Right for Your Garden?
Honeyherb is an excellent choice if you:
- Garden in zones 9b-11 and want a native ground cover
- Love trying unique culinary plants
- Want to support local pollinators with native plants
- Appreciate low-maintenance plants with interesting features
- Need an attractive spreading plant for herb or butterfly gardens
However, you might want to pass if you live in cooler climates (below zone 9b) or prefer plants that won’t spread naturally.
The Bottom Line
Honeyherb offers a unique combination of native plant benefits, pollinator support, and culinary interest that’s hard to find in a single species. While it may not be the showiest plant in your garden, it brings authentic regional character and genuine usefulness that makes it a worthy addition to warm-climate native plant collections. Plus, there’s something pretty magical about having a plant that tastes like natural candy growing right outside your door!
