04/26/2026
Five plants you've been pulling out of your garden are feeding the wildlife you want to attract. Stop pulling them.
White Clover — fixes nitrogen in the soil. Feeds bumblebees, honeybees, and dozens of native bee species. Grows in every lawn that hasn't been sprayed. The lawn doesn't need it removed. The bees do need it left 🐝
Common Violet — host plant for fritillary butterfly caterpillars. No violets, no fritillaries. She lays eggs exclusively on violet leaves. Grows in shade, under hedges, in lawn edges. Tiny purple flowers in spring.
Plantain — the flat-leaved rosette in sidewalk cracks and lawn edges. Host plant for Common Buckeye butterfly caterpillars. Also edible for humans, medicinal historically, and tougher than anything you've planted on purpose.
Self-Heal — low purple flowers in the lawn. Native. Feeds bumblebees and native bees throughout the growing season. Stays low enough to survive mowing. She's already adapted to your lawn.
Goldenrod — the tall yellow plumes along fence lines and field edges in fall. Feeds migrating Monarchs, bumblebees, and dozens of native bees. Does NOT cause allergies — ragweed does. Goldenrod gets blamed because it blooms at the same time.
Five plants. Five food chains. All growing without your help 🌿
