Lippia alba aka Bushy Lippia

Lippia alba is a woody shrub in the verbena family. Its common name is bushy matgrass. It grows in tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas. Its range spans Argentina and the Caribbean. It also reaches southern North America. Kew lists Baja California in Mexico as part of its native range. People gather wild plants to flavour food and for folk medicine. They also grow it in gardens across Central America.

The shrub has few branches and a loose, sprawling shape. Reported heights range from about 5–6.6 feet [1.5–2 metres]. Virginia Tech gives the low end of this range. Useful Tropical Plants gives the high end. The bark is grey-brown. Young stems have four angles and a coat of hairs. They range in colour from purple-brown to grey-brown. The evergreen leaves grow in pairs or sometimes in rings called whorls. Each leaf is oval and has a toothed edge. Leaves reach about 0.125 feet [0.038 metres] long. Their dark upper sides shine, with veins below the surface. Fine hairs cover the paler undersides.

Flowers range from purple to white and form short spikes. These reach about 0.083 feet [0.025 metres] long. Insects carry pollen to the flowers. The small purple fruit is a drupe. It is round or shaped like a pear. Each fruit measures about 0.01 feet [0.003 metres] long. The fruits grow along long spikes. The leaves have a strong scent that recalls anise. People use them to season soups and other dishes. They sometimes cook the leaves as a vegetable. The leaves also make a tea.

This shrub grows slowly and prefers full sun. It needs soil that drains well. Useful Tropical Plants suggests soil with a medium level of fertility. Wild plants grow on slopes covered in scrub and beside roads. Some plants beside roads may have spread from gardens. It also grows beside rivers and on sandbars. Its habitats reach from sea level to upland areas. Growers can raise plants from seed or cuttings. For cuttings, they use soft young shoots or stems that have grown somewhat firm.

People grow it to flavour food and for folk herbal use. Households in Central America use leaf tea for gut and breathing complaints. Records also note use for heart complaints and in herbal baths. These reports of folk use do not prove treatment effects. Growers in Argentina raise the plant for its essential oil. Useful Tropical Plants reports no known hazards. The sources do not show whether it is safe for pets. They give no frost limits or flowering season. They also list no specific pest problems.