Finding Native Grasses for Home Landscaping
Many California native grasses can be used in the home landscape to replace the typical lawns while serving the same purpose. Many also lend themselves to border and background accents.
First, I have selected grasses that range from drought-tolerant to moisture-loving, ones that tolerate sand and ones that like clay. Next, they are available in the nursery trade, either as seed or plants; no sense talking about plants that can’t be purchased. Also, some of these will tolerate foot-traffic. Lastly, maintenance is minimal, such as mow once a year, but don’t sell that lawn mower just yet.
While there are many native grasses, little has been written about them for use in home landscaping. They just don’t have the appeal that showy, flowering plants do. This can make them rather difficult to obtain, but not impossible.
California three awn (Aristida californica): This is a very drought-tolerant bunchgrass that will tolerate full sun to part shade and prefers dry, sandy soil. The leaves are up to 2 inches in length and are green in color. Overall, this plant is somewhat bushy in growth habit. Foot traffic should be kept to an absolute minimum.
Purple three awn (Aristida purpurea): This is another drought-tolerant bunchgrass that will also tolerate full sun to part shade. The leaves are up to 10 inches in length and the flower spike is purple in color, hence the name. This is a true bunchgrass that is usually found on dry slopes. Again, foot traffic should be minimal.
Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa): This grass is a densely clumping perennial that prefers moisture and shade. The leaves are up to 8 inches in length and bright green in color. Tall flower spikes produce small green- to gold-flowers in the early spring. This grass is best for areas that receive no foot traffic.
Blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus): This is a clumping wildrye that will tolerate sun to full shade, moisture and clay to sand. This grass is excellent for slopes and as a groundcover. Stems are from 2- to 4-feet in length with leaves a bluish green. This grass can be found in open areas, chaparral and woodlands.
California fescue (Festuca californica): This is a cool-season, evergreen bunchgrass that will tolerate, full sun to part shade. Like most fescues, this grass prefers moisture. The foliage is a bluish green with leaves that can reach a length of 3 feet. Found in open woodland and chaparral, this grass is ideal for planting among trees and tall shrubs.
Blue bunchgrass (Festuca idahoensis): Another cool-season, evergreen bunchgrass found in dry, open or shady places. Stems can reach 4 feet in height with leaves of up to 1 foot in length. Another ideal grass for planting among drought-tolerant trees and shrubs.
Red fescue (Festuca rubra): Also a cool-season, evergreen bunchgrass found in sand dunes and grasslands. Leaves are reddish in color and can reach a length of 1 foot. While this grass can tolerate full sun, it prefers moisture and must be irrigated during the dry season.
Coast range melic (Melica imperfecta): A bunchgrass for full sun and dry conditions that has slender, bright green leaves on stems that can reach 3 feet in height. This is ideal for dry slopes and tolerates rocky soil.
Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens): An evergreen bunchgrass for full sun and moist- to wet-conditions. The leaves are up to 18 inches in length and slightly arching. Flower spikes are up to 2 feet in length and whitish in color. This can be found in sandy to gravelly places, such as canyons and stream bottoms.
Purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra): A compact, fine-textured bunchgrass found in open oak woodlands, chaparral and grasslands. This grass prefers full sun and dry conditions, and is excellent for erosion control. The flower spikes can reach 3 feet in height and are purplish in color.
The above grasses are best if planted from established plants in the fall after the start of the rainy season. The only exception is the deergrass, which is a warmth-loving grass and does best if planted in May.
---find sources or websites to link to---You can special-order, these plants from your local nursery. Or, visit the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden when they have their plant sale. Nipomo Native Garden may have some of these grasses at their Annual Fall Plant Sale.
Two nurseries that do grow these grasses commercially are Native Sons in Arroyo Grande and Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano. Since the demand for these types of natives is small, commercial availability is usually minimal. Remember, though, the more we clamor for seldom-available plants the sooner they will become common in our local nurseries.
