Water Wise Grass
Agrostis hallii Hall’s Bentgrass: Characteristics: A. hallii is a rhizomatous perennial grass that grows to about 1 foot in height. Its culms are tall and erect approaching 1 1/2 to 3 feet tipped with wide, loose panicles. It has a bright green color. Conditions: It requires little water and infrequent mowing. Geographic locations: Mostly found in open oak woodlands or coniferous forest near the coast from Oregon to Santa Barbara, California. Applications: It shows potential as a ground cover or turf. The restoration, forage, and habitat value of A. hallii is undetermined. Bouteloua gracilis Blue Gramma: Characteristics: B. gracilis is a tufted perennial bunchgrass that has a full-grown stature of 1 to 2 feet in height and 1 foot in width. Its foliage is green and it has a root depth of 16 inches. Its flowering stems bloom in early summer and have a red hue in the beginning of summer that bleaches to white from sun exposure. Grows during the warm-season and has a moderate life span. Conditions: This bunchgrass tolerates regular water but is also drought tolerant. It can live in full sun and grows in sandy, loamy, or alkaline soils. B. gracilis can tolerate mowing and foot traffic. Geographic location: B. gracilis finds home on plains in Wisconsin to Manitoba and Alberta , south to Arkansas , Texas , Southern California and into Mexico . Applications: It forms a very coarse turf substitute that, after established, is a fairly level low-water-maintenance lawn if mowed. Its florets and seeds are in a distinct ornamental structure that is appealing in a yard. After the first year of growth B. gracilis will overcome weeds to provide native re-vegetation. B. gracilis is also great for spring grazing. Carex pansa Dune Sedge: Characteristics: C. pansa is a very small creeping dune plant that grows to be 4 inches tall and 3 1/2 inches to 3 feet wide. This perennial has fine green leaves that make small tufts when healthy. The green florescence blooms in late spring and can remain throughout the year. C. pansa is a cool season grower that spreads by rhizomes. Conditions: C. pansa favors partial shade or full sun and tolerates seasonal flooding. It prefers sandy or well-drained soil. Foot traffic and mowing is all right; however, mowing is not necessary. Geographic locations: It is found in coastal woodland understory. Even though it is a coastal species it adapts well to other inland conditions. It is found in California. Applications: C. pansa makes an excellent lawn substitute that deer will not eat. It is also used for dune restoration and provides habitat cover for many critters. Deschampsia caespitosa Tufted Hairgrass : Characteristics: D. caespitosa is a densely tufted bunch grass that reaches heights of 1 to 4 feet and a width of 2 feet. It has narrow dark green leaves that are stiff and rough to the touch. It maintains its green color in mild climates. This bunchgrass has a very attractive, airy flower stalk that is variable in color, showing purple, silver, green, or gold. Feathery inflorescence show up in late spring or early summer. It grows in spring and summer and if allowed to go dormant it will turn a pale tan. This perennial is long living and spreads by rhizomes. Conditions: D. caespitosa is flexible to weather conditions because it is tolerant to water, including salty water, as well as drought. Thrives under high shade canopy where it is humid; however, it does best in semi-shade. It prefers heavy soils, but can tolerate sandy soil. D. caespitosa tolerates mowing and foot traffic. Geographic Location: D. caespitosa is widely scattered in different environmental conditions and geographic regions. Commonly found in mountain meadows but also occurring at lower elevations and along the coast near springs, bogs, and marshes. In California it is found from the high canopied pine forests of the coast to higher elevations in the Cascades and Sierras. It finds habitat east to the Rocky Mountains and Atlantic coast. It also exists north through Canada up to Alaska. Applications: D. caespitosa’s seed heads make a beautiful, graceful impression that is complimentary to surrounding water features. It acts as a natural lawn or as a footpath and selections of the species can be used for sports fields including soccer, rugby, and golf. It is valuable for erosion control and re-vegetation around water areas such as ponds, streams, ditch banks, waterways, marshy areas, swampy pastures, and alluvial areas. D. caespitosa is an important forage grass in the West that provides good food and cover for animals. Livestock relish it, and if managed properly, will respond well to grazing. Festuca californica California fescue: Characteristics: This perennial grows in loose clumps that reach 2 to 5 feet high and a full-grown width of 1 to 2 feet. It has blue-green or blue-gray leaves that maintain their color throughout the year. In late spring to early summer feathery flowers bloom from the crown. The flower spikes that are initially green change to purple and finally turn a rich yellow. Its root depth stretches to 8 inches. F. californica is long lived and grows in the cool season. Conditions: Does well in sun or partial shade and tolerates drought in cooler climates. It can withstand a dry environment or extreme frost. F. californica is adapted to various soil types including serpentine soils but does need good drainage. F. californica cannot tolerate regular foot traffic; however, it can be mowed. Geographic locations: F. californica is native to open dry ground, chaparral slopes, and woodlands in the coastal mountains from Oregon to Northern California. It also grows west of the Sierras and in the Coast Range from Santa Barbara to Oregon at 1000 to 5000 feet. Applications: This striking, wiry, accent plant, can be used in landscapes as a groundcover, turf, focal point, or in groups for dramatic emphasis. Used for erosion control to stabilize or restore disturbed sites. In restoration it can benefit from association with a nurse crop, such as brome or Elymus, since it is slow to establish. Once it is established it can be expected to provide long lasting benefits for erosion control, habitat value, fire resistance, and as a striking aesthetic display. It is excellent for habitat value, providing good wildlife food and cover. As forage F. californica’s use is limited to early growth stages. Festuca Point Joe - Point Joe Fescue A bunch grass well suited for a water-wise lawn. Grows well in poor soil and drought conditions. 1 foot tall round clumps and throws 2 foot tall seed heads. Grass is blue in color and great for coastal landscapes. For a manicured lawn, mow to 4". Festuca idahoensis Idaho Fescue Characteristics: This densely tufted bunchgrass grows in clumps that are 10 inches wide and 1 to 3 feet tall. The color of its foliage ranges from blue-green to silvery-blue. F. idahoensis has tall culms with loosely bound panicles. Its yellow flowers bloom in early summer. It is generally fine-leafed; however, some blue-green forms occasionally show a coarser texture. It goes dormant in summer until the first rains of the fall and grows in the cool season. Spreads slowly by seeds and has a root depth of 14 inches. F. idahoensis is a relatively long-living perennial. Conditions: Can withstand a dry environment or extreme frost. It will grow in most all exposures to sun. F. idahoensis will tolerate drought and poor soil conditions and is moderately tolerant to cool, wet soils. It can survive foot traffic and rare mowing. Geographic Locations: F. idahoensis grows in open woods or rocky slopes and is widely adaptable from British Columbia to Alberta, all the way south to central California and Colorado. Applications: F. idahoensis is excellent for landscape applications where soil conditions are poor as a fine-leafed groundcover; turf substitute; ornamental; or natural meadow. It is also used as a cover crop in orchards and vineyards because of its lack of water competition with the economic crop, as well as its ability to suppress weeds while keeping the soil structure open. Provides erosion control while improving soil structure. Acts as superb nutritive forage for all livestock when it is both green and cured. F. idahoensis is highly palatable for livestock and can be used as a component in pasture renovation. Characteristics: F. rubra is a loosely tufted perennial bunch grass that grows from 8 inches to 2 feet tall. This grass has tall culms and beautiful fine-leafed dark green blades when watered. It has flowers that are pale green with an occasional purple tinge, which bloom in mid spring. F. rubra is long-lived, growing in the cool season of spring and fall while spreading by rhizomes. Conditions: F. rubra is one of the most shade-tolerant of quality turf grasses. It flourishes best with cool summers and a damp growing season. It requires partial shade and irrigation in hotter climates. This bunchgrass has the ability to withstand a range of conditions including extreme frost, moist soils, or dry areas. It needs good drainage but is adaptable to a wide range of soils such as saline or low fertility soils. For a nice lawn it takes well to occasional mowing and foot traffic. Geographic locations: It is found in bogs, meadows, and marshes throughout California andin the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere to around 8000 feet. Applications: It presents a graceful windswept look when allowed to grow to its maximum height and is especially dramatic as hillside cover where it gives a fluid impression akin to a water cascade. For those wishing to escape the tyranny of the maintenance requirements of the standard lawn, it makes a wonderful natural looking lawn or groundcover. Mixed with other grasses and wildflowers it can be used as the base for the creation of a classic natural meadow. Drought avoiding selections are also useful as a cover crop in vineyards and orchards; for buffer zones and rough areas on golf courses; and for use in stream bank and riparian applications. F. rubra is useful for erosion control, soil conservation, weed competition, and re-vegetation. Some examples of restoration uses include hillside stabilization; waterway banking; and highway re-vegetation. This grass is valuable forage that stays green after frost, remaining good throughout fall for foraging. Koeleria macrantha Junegrass : Characteristics: This tufted perennial bunch grass approaches 18 inches in height and 4 to 7 inches in width. It has a low stature and fine appearance. K. macrantha has green ribbon-like leaves and glossy spike-like flower stalks with yellow seed heads that bloom in late spring. It is long-lived, growing in spring and fall and spreading by rhizomes. Conditions: It prefers hot summers without water and can tolerate partial shade. K. macrantha is widely adapted, living in dry, thin, rocky, sandy, or saline soils of low fertility. It is low maintenance but can be mowed. Some selections of K. macrantha can tolerate regular foot traffic. Geographic location: K. macrantha is found in the prairie, open woods, and slopes throughout North America from Ontario to British Columbia, south to Delaware, Missouri, Louisiana, and California as well as in much of the temperate world below 11,000 feet. Applications: K. macrantha is great for lawns or native meadows. We have two selections, ‘Los Padres’, a native selection, which grows to full height, and a low growing selection, ‘Barkoel’, selected from northern Europe, which is bright green, slow-growing and shows tremendous potential for a drought tolerant, low maintenance lawn and for use on water-conscious golf courses. Used for re-vegetation, it acts as an early successional species in very dry sites that protects later successional species. K. macrantha makes good early spring and fall (after curing) forage that is relished by livestock and wildlife. Melica californica California Oniongrass: Characteristics: This perennial can be densely or loosely tufted and grows 2 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 7 inches wide. Its leaves are bright green with a delicate appearance. Its flowering culms are silvery and ornamental, arching horizontally from its swollen, onion-like base. The white to purple inflorescence blooms during the summer. Growing in the cool season, it goes dormant in the summer resisting efforts to revive with water. It is short-lived and has rhizomatous roots that grow well once established, with accelerating growth in the second year. Conditions: M. californica likes moist environments and tolerates a range of sun exposures from full sun, partial sun, to full shade. It does well in sandy, clay, or serpentine soil. M. californica tolerates mowing but not foot traffic. Geographic locations: M. californica is common on oak covered north slopes, gullies covered with Baccharis, canyons, foothills, mountain meadows, rocky woods, and occasionally chaparral areas. Common associated plants are Mimulus, Ferns, Lonicera, and Ribes. It is found at low to middle elevations, below 5000 feet, in California and Oregon. Applications: It can be used as a winter lawn that requires little water and maintenance. M. californica is also used in moist rock gardens or shade gardens. M. californica is small but can add balance and finish to a native garden. It is useful as a component of cover crops in vineyards and orchards, subsoil slips, and road cuts. As a component of restoration mixes it adds a bright green seasonal appearance and diversity of habit, especially for difficult rocky and dry sites. This nutritious forage is very palatable to livestock and deer. Birds find its seeds to be delectable. Poa secunda Pine bluegrass: Characteristics: A very attractive, low-growing, perennial bunch grass. Growth form ranges from small tufts with only one or two erect culms to large bunches up to 1 foot in diameter. Its height varies from 20 to 40 inches. It has soft foliage and an attractive flower and seed head that matures in May. P. secunda is a cool-season grower that will go dormant during the summer and after flowering at lower elevations. In the mountains or cool sites it will continue growing, remaining green despite its tendency to summer dormancy and the availability of water. It is relatively short lived and has a dense shallow root mass. Conditions: P. secunda can tolerate full sun and partial shade. It is very drought tolerant and does not like water after flowering. It grows well in rich clay loam soils but is most often found on dry, rocky, or sandy soils that provide good drainage. It is also adapted to thin soils and subsoil. It requires mowing well and can tolerate minimal foot traffic. Geographic location: It is found from sea level to high into the mountains. It is very adaptable to many habitats such as semi-desert, ridge tops, flats, slopes, meadows, and open timberline. P. secunda can be found in these habitats from southeastern Alaska across to southern Canada, throughout the western and Great Plains states to Arkansas and the Great Lakes region. Applications: P. secunda provides a transition, perhaps in prairie or dry meadows, between natural habitat and lawn. It also shows promise as a low-water using turf alternative. Since at lower elevations it will go summer dormant, despite the availability of water, it is thus excellent for use as a cover crop in vineyards and orchards. It is a great cover crop alone or in conjunction with Festuca idahoensis and Festuca rubra ‘Molate’. A fine choice for use in re-vegetation and restoration situations, where water is unavailable such as for use along road cuts and fills sites. It prevents the establishment and spread of noxious weeds as well as providing exceptional erosion control. It provides excellent, nutritious forage in the summer, depending on location, for cattle, sheep, horses, pronghorn, elk, mule, deer, small mammals, small non-game birds, and upland game birds. Glossary of Terms: Chaparral: A dense thicket of shrubs or small trees, especially of evergreen oaks in southern California. Culm: a stem with a single embryo. Curing: to age Geniculate: with a joint or joints that can be bent like a knee Inflorescence: the flowers Nurse Crop: a plant that has a short-lived Turf substitute: a plant that can act as a rough lawn. Panicle: a loose branching, pyramid- shaped cluster of flowers Perennial: a plant that continues to grow for many years or several growing seasons. This contrasts with an annual that lives for only one year or one growing season. Rhizomes: a plant that has rhizomes produces shoots that grow horizontally and shallow roots that grow from under the shoots. This makes for a plant that grows horizontally, seeming to creep along the ground. Some of the above varieties are available as plugs or seeds on a seasonal basis at the below nurseries. Some grasses are not available year round. Please call ahead for availability.
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