In this post I will highlight some native edible plants that can grow in your yard to replace your lawn and still comply with less strict HOA, city, and county ordinances. “Short” is under 10 inches.
- Clover
- Lyreleaf Sage
- Self Heal
- Wild Lettuce
- Wood Sorrel
- Dandelion
Clover
- Edible
- Outcompetes most grass
- Pollinators love it
- Native

Lyreleaf Sage

Self-Heal
Prunella Vulgaris ssp. Lanceolata is a native herb with a ton of health benefits that is also in the mint family, however it does not taste or smell like mint. Benefits include:

- Edible
- Used Medicinally Historically
- Pollinators love it
- Short height
Plantains
This will include both Broadleaf and Longleaf/ribwort Plantain. One of my favorites, it is edible and used to sooth the throat or rub on bug bites to immediately relieve the itching. Benefits of having it in your yard include:

Wild Lettuce
Wild Lettuce is a very useful and edible plant. I like to use leaves in my ramen and make tea to immediately relieve cold symptoms. This will grow very large, but you can harvest it whenever it gets too big and harvest it’s natural Lactucarium.

- Pollinators love it
- Short except when flowering
- Prolific
- Easy to manage
- Native
Wood Sorrel
Sorrell is a great three leaved plant that almost looks like a clover but has beautiful yellow or purple flowers. Sorrell has a sour or citrus taste and creates very tasty seed pods.

- Used Medicinally Historically
- Short height
*Some people may react negatively to sorrell due to the oxalic acid when chewing so be careful!
Mugwort
- Easy to manage
Dandelion

There you have it! Now go out and find some of these plants on a nature walk and spread the seeds into your own yard. Try to include them all! You won’t regret it!
Happy Gardening!






