Phyla lanceolata
Lance leaf lippia
(c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Verbenaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phyla lanceolata (Lance leaf lippia) is a native California herb in the Verbenaceae family, recognized by . Clear morphological differences in leaf size, serration pattern, and stem internode length.
Lance leaf lippia is a California native perennial found in the Great Valley, central Coast, San Francisco Bay, southern Coast, and Desert regions in wet places and marshes at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from May to November, this plant produces white or pale blue to purple flowers in compact heads 7 to 18 millimeters long. Growing with spreading branches 15 to 50 centimeters long, it develops internodes typically 3 to 10 centimeters apart. Its leaves are lanceolate to ovate, 25 to 60 millimeters long with serrated edges extending from the lower to mid-blade and toward the tip. The plant forms low, spreading colonies in moist habitats, creating dense ground cover in wetland environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Clear morphological differences in leaf size, serration pattern, and stem internode length.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet places, marshes
Elevation: < 400 m
California counties: Orange, Monterey, Los Angeles, Kern, San Diego, San Bernardino, Alameda, Inyo, Riverside, San Joaquin, Lake, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Colusa, Butte, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Sutter
Outside California: to eastern North America, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Phyla lanceolata blooms May-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Trifolium: Phyla has tubular two-lipped flowers; Trifolium has pea-family flowers with clover leaves.; vs Lantana: Phyla forms low mats in wetlands; Lantana is a woody shrub in disturbed dry areas.; vs Lippia: Phyla has distinctly flattened calyx; Lippia has cylindrical calyx (note: Lippia may be synonym).; vs Verbena: Phyla has flattened calyx with 2-4 teeth; Verbena has cylindrical calyx with 5 teeth.; vs Aloysia: Phyla grows as low mat in wetlands; Aloysia is desert shrub with narrow flower spikes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phyla lanceolata native to California?
Yes. Phyla lanceolata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phyla lanceolata bloom?
Phyla lanceolata blooms May-Nov.
Where in California does Phyla lanceolata grow?
Phyla lanceolata occurs in Orange, Monterey, Los Angeles, Kern, San Diego, San Bernardino, Alameda, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of < 400 m.
What plant family does Phyla lanceolata belong to?
Phyla lanceolata is in the Verbenaceae family, genus Phyla.
What habitat does Phyla lanceolata grow in?
Phyla lanceolata grows in Wet places, marshes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.