"Florida snow" thrives in drought, turning lawns into flower fields

State of play: Tampa Bay and much of Florida are in a drought, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.

• In fact, a 10-week stretch beginning Sept. 1 was Tampa's driest on record, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Driving the news: That's when pusley thrives.

• The plant likes drier soil and, thanks to a thick stem, holds moisture better than grass, per the Palm Beach Post.

Zoom in: With each plant producing 20 flowers, it spreads tons of seeds and can easily take over large swaths of struggling turf. It also draws bees and butterflies.

• There are four species, one of which is native to Florida, per the Post. The others come from South America but are common in the Sunshine State.

Friction point: While it can really dress up a brown, crunchy yard, it can also pose a problem for lawn-obsessed residents and ranchers — pusley can take over entire pastures, and cows and horses won't eat it.

💭 Kathryn's thought bubble: As someone with a chronically patchy yard, I love this stuff.

• I don't care to put in the labor or contribute to the environmental risk of maintaining a perfect lawn. Plus, it's so pretty!

Yes, but: If you're more of a lawn-care warrior than I am, you can try certain herbicides, although some species are easier to control than others.

Go deeper: Find more advice and information here from the experts over at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.