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Pretty Perennial Lawn Weeds

© Jojo Sigurgeirson

I will be the first to admit that nothing sets off a perennial border better than a beautiful lawn, but there is no reason why the lawn area must be totally devoid of flowers in it's own right. The tiny flowers of lawn weeds can be a delight, not just for you and other humans but for other lawn visitors, such as bees, butterflies and hummingbird hawkmoths.

Poor soils, improper care, or neglect commonly cause weed invasions in lawns. Areas that are dry and exposed or soggy wet can be so difficult to grow lawns in that weeds set in, sometimes attractive ones. This article will set out to expose you to their subtle charms, inducing a kind of tolerance for them.

A Few Favourites
There are many kinds of lawn weeds. Here I have listed and pictured a few of my favourites. Maybe there are different kinds in your garden. If you need help identifying one, please join in the discussion linked to at the bottom of this page.

Veronica

There are many kinds of Veronica, many being sold as ornamentals in garden stores, but those choice plants will not survive long in the lawn. Their tough weedy companions prefer sparse lawn that is regularly mowed. Letting your lawn grow too long might kill a small colony of these plants. They make a really nice addition to the lawn, particularly in early-summer when their tiny blue flowers appear as a haze below the blades of the grass. The most common one here is a deep blue, as pictured in the inset, but I sometimes see the lighter blue version around as well.

Orange Hawkweed
Also known as Hieracium auranticum, grows in open exposed soils, often colonizing road sides and clear-cuts or dry lawns with poor soil. The flowers can reach from 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 feet) tall and can be quite difficult to cut with a mower with one or two passes. The vibrant orange flowers bloom all summer if you deadhead. It is also terribly invasive as the first message in our discussion points out.

Prunella
Prunella vulgaris, also known as All-heal, makes a lovely ground cover for moist shady areas. It is often found as a weed in lawns, blooming deep purple at any cool and mild time of the year.

Daisies
Lawn daisies come in many forms. There are English daisies flowering in spring in shades of white and pink, and the less common but more sought-after chamomile.