Skip to main content
UF/IFAS Extension University of Florida

Pollinator Plants for a Naturalized Lawn

A white butterfly with faint black markings on a weedy plant.
Peppergrass with a checkered white butterfly visitor. Photo: Mary Keim, some rights reserved (cc by-nc-sa 2.0).

Weeds are considered by UF/IFAS to be plants out of place, but what if some weeds residing in your lawn are exactly where they need to be? There are certain flowering weedy plants that attract pollinators, increase the biodiversity of your lawn and reduce maintenance needs. These “lawn companions” can enhance or replace the conventional lawn.

What is a naturalized lawn?

A naturalized lawn allows for the presence of beneficial plant species that do not detract from the function of a lawn. Also referred to as mixed-species lawns or freedom lawns, a naturalized lawn is also a sneaky-yet-effective way of developing a pollinator garden without much effort. Below are some plants we recommend that not only create a haven for wildlife but also add additional colors and textures among the green blades of grass.

A small weedy plant with tiny white flowers atop stems with tiny green leaves arranged down the stem.
Peppergrass

Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum) is a native wildflower known for having little white butterflies stop for nectar from its tiny white blooms. It is the host plant for cabbage white butterfly, southern white butterfly and checkered white butterfly.

A weedy plant with long thin green leaves that have bright red where they meet the stem.
Paintedleaf. Photo: Scott Zona, some rights reserved.

Paintedleaf (Euphorbia cyathophora) is a Florida native nicknamed “wild poinsettia” because it is related to the poinsettia that is popular around the holidays. It has cup-shaped structures that contain small greenish yellow flowers that attract moths, bees and butterflies. Be mindful that it causes contact dermatitis when touched and is toxic to pets and humans.

A small black bee visits a sunny yellow flower of the patridge pea plant.
Partridge pea

Sensitive partridge pea (Chamaecrista nictitans) is a native wildflower in the pea family. It’s quite shy; the word “sensitive” in its name refers to the fact that its leaves fold together when touched. The blooms are small and yellow and attract butterflies such as the little yellow, cloudless sulphur, ceraunus blue and gray hairstreak, which all use the plant as a larval host. The seeds are eaten by small mammals and birds.

Tiny pale purple flowers of the common lawn weed called Florida betony.
Florida betony

Florida betony (Stachys floridana), also called rattlesnake weed, is a Florida native with flowers that form long clusters of pink and white blooms. Its edible tubers are crunchy and resemble a rattlesnake’s tail. Native bees and butterflies are attracted to Florida betony, but it spreads rapidly and is difficult to get rid of, so take this into consideration before adding it to your landscape.

Tiny purple trumpet-shaped flowers arranged around a stalk of lyreleaf sage.
Lyreleaf sage

Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata) is a native wildflower that graces us with blue to lavender blooms in spring and sporadically throughout the year. Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers, and the lower lip of the petal is a great landing pad for pollinators like bees and butterflies. This plant works nicely as a groundcover and thrives with occasional mowing, so it is well suited as a turfgrass companion or replacement.

Close look at the white, daisy-like flower of Bidens alba. It has a fuzzy bright yellow center.
Spanish needles

Spanish needles (Bidens alba) is native to Florida and produces abundant blooms of white flowers with yellow centers. The common name refers to its hitchhiking seeds, harmless but resembling tiny needles that disperse by sticking to clothing and fur. Spanish needles is a host plant for the dainty sulphur butterfly and supports other pollinators as well.

Very close look at a single frogfruit flower with velvety purple center surrounded by tiny white and lavender blossoms.
Frogfruit

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is a native groundcover and a viable option as a turfgrass companion or alternative, as it is easily planted from plugs and prefers occasional mowing. The tiny purplish-white blooms appear May through October and attract many pollinators. Frogfruit is a larval host plant for butterflies like the phaon crescent, buckeye and white peacock. It also provides nectar for the ceraunus blue butterfly and local bees.

Why not embrace biodiversity in your lawn and support local pollinators in the process? Lawn ornaments such as these can help create a safe haven for wildlife like butterflies and bees.

A bee visits a flower no bigger than it. It's white, daisy-like with a bright yellow fuzzy center.
Bidens alba, aka Spanish needles

For more information about naturalizing your lawn or native pollinator plants, contact your county Extension office.

Also on Gardening Solutions

More from UF/IFAS

Tiny, weedy daisy like flowers with fuzzy yellow center and fringe like white petals.
Oakleaf fleabane (Erigeron quercifolius).

What is That Lawn Ornament?

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County has an entertaining blog series devoted to “lawn ornaments” and naturalized lawns.

A mat of teeny tiny purple and white trumpet shaped flowers.
Savannah false pimpernel, aka angel’s tears (Lindernia grandiflora). Photo: James Hardee, some rights reserved.
Was this page helpful? Yes 😀 No ☹️