Rethinking Lawns

Exploring lawn alternatives for biodiversity support, climate change resilience, and infrastructure improvements

The Flowery Species

Bigleaf Aster

A fall spectacular! Nice leafy groundcover in warm seasons & tons of pollinators.
Butterfly Weed

Great for attracting all sorts of pollinators. Yes, it’s a little tall, but it’s one of the shortest milkweeds and is very popular with all the critters. It’s worth it!
Dalea purpurea

Leafy and cute, provides great support for pollinators.
Ground Plum

Low-growing, dry-tolerant, and petite!
Jacob’s Ladder

Spring purple flowers with leaves that stick around year-round.
Nodding Wild Onion

Great for year round green color, with cheerful, bright pink flowers in high summer.
Plantainleaf Pussytoes

Groundcover that ever so briefly blooms. Soft, low, and carpetlike. Larger leaves than Antennaria neglecta.
Praire Pussytoes

Year-round very low and soft groundcover. Only blooms for a hot second, but the flowers look like kitten toes!
Prairie Smoke

Spring bloomer that has great leaves that stick around year-round.
Prairie Violet

A sweet violet with split leaves that blooms early.
Shooting Star

Only blooms for a moment, but is beautiful while it’s up!
Silky Aster

The shortest of our asters, they flop over and form a low cloud of purple fall flowers.
Small Skullcap

Short, sweet, and self-spreading, this cutie can take care of themselves.
Spring Beauty

Only above ground for a brief moment, but there’s no one cuter!
White Prairie Clover

Leafy and sweet, great for pollinators.
Whorled Milkweed

Great as a delicate, skinny milkweed that doesn’t get too tall.
Wild Hyacinth

Only blooming for a short time, but beautiful!
Wild Petunia

A long summer season bloomer with tons of flowers, spreads easily with seeds.
Wild Strawberry

Great for covering a lot of area with low maintenance. Will spread everywhere quickly!
Wood Betony

Cool parasitic plant with joyful yellow spring flowers.