White lippia Plant Care

White lippia (Lippia alba) belongs to the Verbenaceae family within the Lippia genus. White lippia is native to southern Texas in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. White lippia is also known as Bushy lippia, Cuban oregano, Mexican oregano.

White lippia displays a low spreading ground cover growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. White lippia produces small clusters of white or lavender flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 1 inches.

Water a young or newly planted White lippia every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

White lippia thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Lippia alba tolerates temperatures of 65–85°F. White lippia prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for White lippia to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed White lippia every month during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

White lippia is suited to USDA Zone 9a – 11b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

White lippia can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 2 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune White lippia while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

White lippia is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 9). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

White lippia can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to abyssinian lippia plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

White lippia is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

White lippia grows outdoors in USDA Zone 9a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 9a. White lippia is native to southern Texas in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. In cooler regions, grow White lippia as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.