Hello Loren,

When it comes to creating a low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly lawn in Michigan, many gardeners have championed mixes that include Dutch (or white) clover combined with fine fescues. White clover (Trifolium repens) is popular due to its very low growth habit, nitrogen‐fixing ability, and the attractive, nectar-rich blooms that pollinators love. However, white clover is not native to North America; it originates from Europe, although it has naturalized in many regions. This means that while it offers the practical benefits, you’re after, it doesn’t align with a strictly native planting philosophy.

In Michigan, there is currently no widely available, strictly native, low-growing clover that mimics the dense, tidy, turf-like qualities of white clover. Many native clover species either don’t spread uniformly or grow too tall to serve as a lawn alternative. Instead of a single native clover, experts—including those at Michigan State University Extension—often recommend a hybrid approach. This might involve using a mix that retains some white clover for its proven low-growing habit and nitrogen benefits while surrounding it with native groundcovers, sedges (for example, the native Carex pensylvanica, which forms a fine, grasslike cover), or even constructing a “pollinator lawn” with a broader mix of native prairie plants. These broader mixes can reduce mowing by breaking up the traditional turf area and provide a diverse habitat that benefits a broader array of pollinators. More information at this link:

Pollinator lawns - Michigan Pollinator Initiative

If you lean toward an all‐native solution, you might consider designing a landscape that isn’t a continuous turf but rather a patchwork of low-growing native plants—combining, for example, native grasses, sedges, and flowering forbs. This style of “wildflower lawn” not only reduces mowing but also enhances local biodiversity. Local native plant lists and resources (like those offered by MSU Extension) can help you select species that will thrive in Michigan’s climate and soil conditions, ensuring your landscape remains attractive, functional, and genuinely supportive of local wildlife. More information at these links:

Smart Gardening: Smart lawn alternatives to protect pollinators - Gardening in Michigan

Consider a flowering bee lawn to help pollinators - Gardening in Michigan

I hope this helps!