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I found this plant invading an unirrigated school yard lawn in Everett, Washington (USDA zone 8a):

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This plant is very effectively competing with the grass and might make a good lawn replacement. The foliage is feathery similar to many plants in the Asteraceae family. It spreads on rooting stolons as seen below.

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Does anyone know what it is? Since it has been regularly mowed, I do not know its mature height or anything about its flower. My best guess at the moment is some sort of yarrow (Achillea).

The plant is on my way to and from work. So if you need me to verify any identifying features, I can do that.

Additional Observations:

The foliage of this plant is not especially aromatic. If I smash up a bunch of leaves and stuff them in my nose (and close my eyes and think of Kentucky), they smell slightly grassy.

Eric Nitardy
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1 Answers1

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That looks like Yarrow, Achillea millefolium. I have some identical to it that. It has a strong, pungent scent something like a carrot. It will grow as a very good lawn substitute, taking moderate to heavy foot traffic in full sun to shade. It does well mowed every two weeks during the active growing season. It prefers a well drained location (no sitting water). I think this is a viable option for a low maintenance lawn in a dry location, but it is not resistant to most lawn-weed selective herbicides, so you will have to weed it by hand.

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J. Musser
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