white clover

In Canada, a pasture mix of yarrow, white clover and Rocky Mountain fescue experienced less intense and slower-moving fires than those that burned through nearby grasslands.

Researchers elsewhere have looked at various options for replacing the lawn, including wildflower meadows and prairie-style communities dominated by larger grasses, as well as ground covers such as nonnative white clover and low-mow fescue mixes.

Often called bee-friendly, these mixes typically contain creeping thyme, yarrow and white clover.

The hardy white clover—the species predominantly used for clover lawns today—is a primary nectar source for pollinators.

Instead, they are looking to genetically modify the ryegrass and white clover that the New Zealand animals predominantly eat.