Several small flowering plants are visible in the landscape this time of year. While they may be considered a weed, they are also an important food source for pollinators. They provide rich nectar to many of our bees, butterflies, and flies. Here are some that you may be seeing:

Tiny Bluet, Houstonia caerulea
Native, herbaceous, perennial wildflower.

Photo credit: Kathy Sill
CC BY 4.0

Wild Violet, Viola
Herbaceous, native perennial with delicate flowers and heart-shaped leaves.

Photo Credit: Hope Duckworth
CC BY 4.0

Purple Dead Nettle, Lamium purpureum

Non-native winter annual in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Often confused with henbit.

Photo Credit: BerndH
CC BY-SA 2.5

Henbit, Lamium amplexicaule

Non-native, cool-season annual in the mint family (Lamiaceae). Chickens like to eat it. Often confused with purple dead nettle.

Photo Credit: F.D. Richards
CC-BY-SA 2.0

Hairy Bittersweet, Cardamine hirsuta

Non-native winter annual that is a member of the Brassicaceae (mustard) family.

Photo Credit: Kerry Wixted
CC BY-NC 2.0

Common Yellow Woodsorrel, Oxalis stricta
Native perennial that is easily recognized by heart-shaped leaves.

Photo Credit: J. Neal