Lawn Alternatives

Invasive plants: Bermuda, Cemtipede & Bahia Grass 

Lawns are typically one species, usually non-native and require herbicide and pesticide use for optimal upkeep. Common non-native, full-sun grass choices include Tier 1 invasive species (currently having severe or widespread negative impacts on wildlife or natural communities in Louisiana) such as Bermuda Grass, Centipede Grass and Common Bahia Grass. Two native alternatives, Mimosa strigulosa and Phyla nodiflora, can be used instead to provide a low, hardy groundcover for full sun that has pretty blooms, can be mowed, is low maintenance and supports the local ecosystem.

AlterNative #1: Phyla nodiflora - Frogfruit, Matchweed

Phyla is from the Greek for “tribe,” and nodiflora translates from Latin as “flower knots.” Other native species include P. lanceolata and P. strigulosa as well as intermediate hybrids. This low, herbaceous perennial sprawls across the ground forming a mat of tangled stalks with green foliage and ascending stems of tiny white flowers, with yellow or pink-purple throats, bunched around a purple center. The flower shape gives it another common name, Matchweed, with blooms from early spring to late fall. An ornamental in the Verbena family, it is native from northern South America to the southern U.S. Found through most of Louisiana in disturbed areas. Evergreen if no hard freeze.

It grows quickly, roots at stem nodes and is easily transplanted. Each plant spreads to 3’3-12” in height. Takes full sun to light shade, moist to dry soil. A good nectar source that attracts many pollinators and is a larval host for the Phaon Crescentspot, Buckeye and White Peacock butterflies.

AlterNative #2: Mimosa strigulosa - Sensitive Plant, Pink Powderpuff

Mimosa comes from Greek for “mime” in that this plant mimics active life, the leaves folding within seconds when disturbed.  There are five native species of Mimosa in Louisiana, but the rest are known as Sensitive Briars as they contain prickles.  M. strigillosa is named after the ancient Greek for stirgils, tools used to scrape sweat and dirt off the body, which the pair of stipules at the base of the leaf resembles. It is a member of the legume family and found throughout the state in disturbed, sunny soils, favoring the heavy clay of the Mississippi floodplain.  Sun to light shade, moist to dry soil.

It is a perennial evergreen with small, fern-like leaves on alternate sides of a prostrate stem; it does go dormant in cold weather. The bloom is held above the leaves on a stem 1-2” tall. A multitude of miniscule florets are arranged in a globose head about 1” wide, from which extend up to 10 pink stamens topped with golden pollen giving it a powderpuff look. The above-ground stems root at nodes and overlap so as to form a mat. The stems can turn woody, so this is actually a shrub, but due to its growth habit functions as a herbaceous groundcover. Usual height is 2-8” with stolons that can “run” several meters. With extensive roots that can fix nitrogen, hold soil and tolerate drought, it does best in open, disturbed spaces such as streetside. Can be grown with grass and mowed. Larval host for Little Sulphur butterfly.

Species copy and photos by Susan Norris-Davis of the Native Plant Initiative of Greater New Orleans