Pollinators in Our Lawns

No Mow March

No Mow March & Low Mow Spring - Why it matters!

Let flowers bloom and pollinators Flourish.

One out of every three bites of our food are tied to invertebrates, small animals, and birds that pollinate plants. This relationship is beneficial for both sides: pollinators help plants reproduce while plants and the insects dependent on those plants provide food. Many of the same plants provide critical habitat elements. To maintain the abundance of bird life we love in Nassau County our built environment must leave spaces for nutrient production that birds need, and it starts with insects, other invertebrates and, for many of our butterflies, moths, and native bees, pollen and nectar. Manicured, monoculture lawns cannot provide the habitat needed because they lack floral resources and structure and are often treated with pesticides.

Reduced mowing of your lawns is one way you can help create critical habitat to increase abundance and diversity of pollinators and other wildlife. Newly emerging native bees and other pollinators at the start of the growing season makes spring a particularly important time to let flowers in your lawn bloom to provide nectar and pollen for feeding them and their offspring.

Did you know:

Reduced mowing has been shown in many studies to increase abundance and diversity of butterflies, bees, other insects, and plants. Don’t worry about controlling caterpillars for fear of damage to your ornamental flowers. The healthy pollinator and wildlife community you are encouraging will help with that! And make more flowers at the same time.
Reduced mowing decreases the presence of pest insects!

Want to do more?

Plant a variety of native plants that bloom at different times, eliminate pesticide use, and educate your friends and neighbors.

March & April flowers in our yards

Mock Bishop's Weed, Ptilimnium capillaceum

This little flower has lacy foliage and an umbel or tiny white flowers. Black swallowtail butterflies lay eggs on this important larval food source and caterpillars enjoy munching the tasty leaves. Though tiny, the flowers offer a ready source of nectar and will attract native bees, flies, and wasps. Fortunately, it has a long taproot so it can survive being eaten by caterpillars and being mowed, once the caterpillars are gone, if you so desire.
Wild petunia, Ruellia caroliniensis

With a lovely lavender flower, wild petunia can be used as a groundcover or featured in your native garden. It is easy to grow and can tolerate full sun and shade and anything in between while also being tolerant of dry periods. Both Common Buckeye and White Peacock butterflies use this as a larval host plant and a variety of pollinators will be attracted to the flowers.
Please use this Florida native instead of the widely sold and invasive Mexican petunia.
Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Spiderwort often shows up on roadsides and fields but is a lovely addition to any lawn. The showy deep blue flowers with their bright yellow anthers bloom early and attract many pollinators. Their bunched habit and happy flowers provide a show from spring through fall.
Spiderwort with tiny pollinator

the Eastern Calligrapher (Toxomerus geminatus)
Beggarticks, Bidens alba

Beggarticks are another wildflower that will plant itself in your yard and, given the abundance along roadsides and their clingy seeds. They are an important nectar and pollen resource for our pollinators and can be seen alive with insects on almost any day. The dainty sulfur butterfly uses it as a larval food source.
Beggerticks can get “unrulily”, however they are easily pruned and with continue flowering at the lower cut heights after pruning.
Beggerticks with Gulf Fritillary
Yellow woodsorrel, Oxalis corniculate

Nectar from Showy yellow flowers are mostly pollinated by small bees, but also attract butterflies. The inner throat is sometimes lined with red streaks near the base of the petals.
Florida betony, Stachys floridana

Great early spring bloomer and loved by bees, bumblebees, etc. but can be very aggressive and difficult to remove. You may want to restrict this species to larger lots where you need a heavy groundcover.
Lyreleaf sage, Salvia lyrata

Beautiful blue tubular flowers made a great addition to the yard and, if kept mowed, will bloom abundantly in your spring garden. It also seeds readily and may not work in a manicured lawn. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees love this pretty flower and it can be found in a variety of conditions.
Sneezeweed, Helenium spp.

Sneezeweed: Bees, butterflies, and other native pollinators love this bright yellow flower. Sneezeweed blooms early in the spring and can grow to 3 or 4 feet. Sneezeweed prefers full sun and usually moist conditions.
Tropical sage, Salvia coccinea

Salvia will bloom any time of the year and readily self-seeds so you can collect the seeds by bagging the flowers once they start to wilt. They add a lovely red or, less commonly, pink color to your yard and will attract hummingbirds and a wide variety of pollinators. They like sunny or partially shady spots that are on the dry side.