Lyre Leaved Sage
Salvia lyrata
Lyre Leaved or Lyreleaf Sage is native to most of the Eastern U.S. down to Martin County. There is a lot of it along the Florida Turnpike south of Orlando. Get out of your car and look down.
The leaves are shaped like a fiddle (Lyre) and are up to eight inches long, but usually around Four. The rosette of leaves is only six inches tall and makes a low groundcover.
Lots of seedlings come up if the plant is allowed to seed. Whole areas of the yard may be covered with seedlings and these mix well with other low wildflowers for a mixed lawn.
I grow it with Sunshine Mimosa, Fogfruit and Browne’s Savory in the parking area of my yard. Moderate car and foot traffic are fine. The edge of my shady lawn is blue with the flowers in late winter and spring. I’m sure the painted buntings and other seed eating birds are feeding on it. They like the immature Red Salvia seed.
This is also a good steamed vegetable. Click for more info. It has a mild minty flavor and is said to be slightly laxative, so try a little at a time.
My experience with this plant is that it lasts for years, comes up readily from seed and may occasionally need to be pulled, although I have never had to.
It is not salt tolerant, but will grow in moist to dry soil in full sun to fairly deep shade.
This is the perfect plant to spread around the neighborhood when no one is looking. Just scatter a few in the community swale. Some will love you for it and you “have no idea where they came from” for the rest.