Welcome to our Lawn Ornament blog series, where we explore the plethora of micro-plants that can help create a biodiverse, predominantly green, yet also delightfully colorful lawn that requires much less maintenance than a traditional grass lawn.
Many homeowners find it difficult and costly to maintain a “traditional” lawn, one largely dominated by a single grass cultivar. Embracing a biodiverse landscape can ease the frustration and save money, with the added bonus of providing ecological benefits. This “Lawn Ornament” series will provide a road map to that goal. Along the way, we’ll showcase volunteer “weeds” and commercially available ground covers that can improve upon the biodiversity of our lawns. We will also offer you tips and techniques to adopt and embrace this biodiverse approach. Breaking free from tradition, we can transform yards and neighborhoods to vibrant, beautiful mixed-mowable ecosystems.
Make sure to check out the Starter Guide: Embracing Lawn Ornaments: A Starter Guide
What Is That Lawn Ornament? Blue Toadflax & Bay Lobelia!
Two No Mow March Standouts!
As winter fades and spring approaches, Florida’s roadsides come alive with delicate wildflowers, often mistaken for one another at a quick glance. Two such beauties currently blooming are Bay Lobelia (Lobelia feayana) and Blue Toadflax (Linaria canadensis). With similar flowers, I commonly confused the two of these until I understood their distinct growth habits. They are both great wildflowers that peak in the springtime during No Mow March!
Spotting the Differences: Bay Lobelia vs. Blue Toadflax
At first glance, both Bay Lobelia and Blue Toadflax boast dainty bluish to lavender flowers that seem to float just above the surrounding vegetation. However, a closer look reveals key differences in their structure and growth patterns.
- Bay Lobelia (Lobelia feayana) is a low-growing, sprawling plant, often forming dense mats along roadsides, open fields, and lawns. Thriving in moist areas. Its small, five-lobed flowers emerge directly from the creeping stems, giving it a more low-growing groundcover-like appearance. Usually it is around six inches tall.
- Blue Toadflax (Linaria canadensis), on the other hand, grows upright, with slender stems that can reach up to two feet tall but is usually around 12 inches tall. Its tiny, snapdragon-like flowers are spaced along the stem, creating a more airy, vertical display compared to Bay Lobelia’s ground-hugging habit.
Essential Pollinator Support
Both of these spring-blooming wildflowers play a crucial role in supporting pollinators as the seasons transition. Their nectar provides an early food source for a variety of bees, butterflies, and other insects emerging from winter dormancy.
- Bay Lobelia attracts small native bees and flies that help pollinate the flowers as they forage.
- Blue Toadflax is particularly valuable as a host plant for Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) butterfly caterpillars, offering a crucial nursery for this familiar and charismatic species.
By allowing these native wildflowers to flourish in our landscapes, we help sustain the intricate web of pollinators that support Florida’s ecosystems.
A Lawn Alive with Life: Embracing Biodiversity
As more homeowners and communities embrace biodiverse lawns, the concept of “lawn ornaments” takes on a new meaning. Instead of striving for a monoculture of turfgrass, allowing wildflowers like Bay Lobelia and Blue Toadflax to flourish creates a dynamic, ever-changing landscape rich with ecological benefits. One simple way to encourage these native gems is by participating in ‘No Mow March,’ a movement that promotes delaying mowing to allow spring wildflowers to bloom. This small shift can significantly impact local pollinator populations and contribute to a healthier, more resilient yard. By recognizing the beauty and ecological value of these often-overlooked wildflowers, we not only enhance our landscapes but also support Florida’s incredible biodiversity. This spring, take a closer look at the blue-hued blossoms along our roadsides—you may just find yourself inspired to welcome them into your own lawn.
Resources
- UF/IFAS on Buckeye hosting on Toadflax: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/in801
- Florida Native Plant Society on Blue Toadflax: https://www.fnps.org/plant/linaria-canadensis
- Florida Wildflower Foundation on Blue Toadflax: https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-linaria-canadensis/
- USF Plant Atlas on Blue Toadflax: https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/774
- Natives for your Neighborhood on Blue Toadflax: https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Linacana
- Florida Wildflower Foundation on Bay Lobelia: https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-lobelia-feayana/
- Natives for your Neighborhood on Bay Lobelia: https://regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Lobefeay
- USF Plant Atlas on Bay Lobelia: https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/1273
During the preparation of this work, the author used ChatGPT to help build the blog post. After using this tool/service, the author reviewed and edited the content, and takes full responsibility for the content of the publication.
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