Masses of
Grasses
Andropogon
gerardii
Big bluestem, Turkey foot Early settlers
christened this big grass Turkey foot, for its distinctive
three-pronged
seed head. Big bluestem is widespread throughout the U.S., Canada and
Mexico, and was a dominant grass in the prairies of the Midwest. This
clumping grass provides a strong vertical form in the landscape, growing
quickly to 6 to 8 feet tall by 3 to 4 feet wide. During the warm months,
the ½-inch-wide leaves are a lush blue-green color, changing to a
striking coppery-red color as the temperatures cool. Silvery seed heads
add a final adornment in the fall months. Durable and long-lived, Big
bluestem is not fussy about soils, temperature extremes, or moisture.
Since it can tolerate slightly waterlogged conditions, it would be ideal
for retention basin plantings. Its large stature makes it an ideal
background grass for meadow gardens. Big bluestem is cold hardy to -20°
F.
Aristida purpurea
Purple three awn The purple-tinted stems and
flowers of Aristida purpurea attract attention during the warm months,
especially where it grows abundantly along roadsides. Purple three awn has
an erect growth habit, and forms a small clump to about 2 feet tall and
wide. The fine-textured foliage can range in color from green to blue. In
the fall, the three long awns attached to each seed glow in the sunlight.
It can either be scattered among native shrubs and perennials, or planted
in masses for maximum impact. Purple three awn has a wide distribution,
growing at elevations from 1000 to 5000 feet in Arizona, Utah, Texas, New
Mexico, and into the plains and northern Mexico. It thrives in sunny, dry
locations, with minimal irrigation. Too much water or poor drainage will
cause problems. It is hardy to about 0° F. Be warned that this little
grass reseeds prolifically, and will migrate around the landscape. Its
seeds have an annoying habit of clinging to socks, so keep plants away
from traffic patterns.
Bouteloua
curtipendula
Sideoats grama If you're
looking for smaller grasses to create a meadow effect, you might consider
the grama grasses. The short-grass prairies of North America are dominated
by two species; Sideoats grama and Blue grama. Both of these warm-season,
clumping grasses are extremely cold hardy and durable. They should be
grown in full sun, although they are tolerant of varied soil conditions.
In the late spring and summer masses of unusual and distinctive flower
spikes and seed heads are produced. As winter approaches, these plants go
dormant. Adequate irrigation is required to keep these grasses green
during the extreme heat of the low deserts. The seeds are used by
wildlife. Sideoats grama forms a clump to 2 feet tall by 12-15 inches in
diameter, with a 2-foot-tall flower spike rising above the plant in the
spring, summer and fall. After blooming, large seeds form on one side of
the stiff stalk, hence the name Sideoats grama. Its narrow blue-green
leaves dry to a tan color in the winter months. It will benefit from a
good hard pruning or mowing in the early spring to remove dormant winter
foliage and spent flower spikes.
Bouteloua gracilis
Blue grama Although
similar in appearance and uses to Sideoats grama, Blue grama is easily
identified by its distinctive curved "comblike" seedheads, which
appear during the summer. These seedheads contribute a light, airy feel to
meadow gardens. The leaves are light green, drying to a tan color in the
winter. In the hot, low deserts Blue grama tends to be a small bunchgrass
to 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. In cooler, moist climates it can form a
fairly dense sod. Or combine it with Purple prairieclover (Petalostemum
purpureum) and other perennial wildflowers and leave it unmowed for a
casual feel. Hilaria rigida…Big galleta Big galleta is a perennial,
shrub-like grass most often used for revegetation and erosion control.
This native of North America usually occurs in sandy soils up to 5000 feet
in elevation. It has a rough appearance; with coarse blue-green leaves
forming a dense clump to 3 feet tall by 4 feet wide. From spring through
fall it produces slender, dense spikes of greenish flowers. Big galetta is
fast growing, long-lived, very drought tolerant, and hardy to 10° F. It
should be planted in full sun and well-drained soil, and cut to the ground
every few years. Be aware that this grass is allergenic.
Muhlenbergia
capillaris Regal Mist™ 
This native of east Texas has taken the Southwest
by storm in the past few years. During their fall bloom period, mass
plantings of Regal Mist™
can literally stop traffic! The haze of deep
pink flowers covering the plant is especially stunning when backlit by the
sun. Muhlenbergia capillaris is a small clump grass with narrow, glossy
green leaves. The foliage forms a dense rosette to three feet tall and
wide, with the frothy flowers adding another 1-2 feet of height in the
fall months. This fast-growing plant should be cut almost to the ground in
late winter or early spring to remove the brown leaves and spent flowers.
In cold regions it will turn winter dormant, but is root hardy to at least
0° F. Regal Mist™
thrives in full sun and reflected heat locations, and
even tolerates light shade. It is adapted to a wide range of soils, from
sand to clay, and survives drastic fluctuations in water supply. While it
will survive with very little water, it needs ample irrigation to look its
best in the summertime. To date, reseeding has not been a problem when
plants are watered with drip irrigation. Use Regal Mist™
in bold sweeps,
nestled up against boulders or low walls for a softening effect, or around
water features and swimming pools.
Muhlenbergia dumosa
Bamboo muhly
Bamboo muhly provides a totally unique look for the garden. Its
chartreuse, very fine-textured foliage creates a soft, billowy appearance,
providing a wonderful foil for bold succulents and cacti. Compared to the
other muhly grasses, its flowers are insignificant. Bamboo muhly spreads
slowly from underground stems, eventually forming a clump to 4-5 feet tall
and wide. It thrives in full sun or part shade, and is adapted to a wide
range of soils. It appreciates moderate to ample summer irrigation. Bamboo
muhly is hardy to at least 10° F.
Muhlenbergia emersleyi El
Toro™ 
Bull
grass Muhlenbergia emersleyi is native to rocky slopes in oak woodlands
from Arizona to Texas. El ToroÔ was collected in southeastern Arizona,
where it grows in dense colonies. This blue-green grass is smaller and
more dense than Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens), growing to about 2-3
feet tall and wide. In the fall months it sends up loose, dark purple
flower spikes. El Toro™
is very drought tolerant, and grows equally well
in full sun or part shade. It is root hardy to at least 10° F.
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri Autumn Glow™
This Texas native makes a great
backdrop for Muhlenbergia capillaris Regal Mist ™. During the fall
months, its tall spikes of light yellow flowers glow when backlit by the
sun. The narrow, light green leaves form a dense mound to 5 feet tall and
wide. Autumn Glow™ is very adaptable, tolerating full sun to almost full
shade, and most soil types. It is a good choice for retention basins or
other areas that receive periodic flooding. It is root hardy to at least
10 ° F.
Muhlenbergia rigens
Deer grass Dependable and adaptable, Deer
grass is the backbone of many desert gardens. The lush green-grey foliage
softens boulders, cacti, and is ideal for use around water features.
Native to the Southwest at elevations up to 7000 feet, Deer grass thrives
in varied conditions. It flourishes in full sun and difficult reflected
heat exposures, and tolerates quite a bit of shade. Deer grass is
extremely drought tolerant, although the foliage browns out if adequate
water is not available in the summer. It also handles high rainfall,
virtually any soils, and is root hardy to at least 0° F. In the fall it
sends up slender tan flower spikes that create a stunning contrast with
the four to five foot mound of luxuriant foliage. Since Deer grass can
reseed if watered with overhead irrigation systems, drip irrigation is
recommended.
Muhlenbergia rigida
Nashville™ 
Sometimes a small,
low-growing grass is needed as a border or in areas with site visibility
restrictions. NashvilleÔ fits the bill, growing to about 2 feet tall and
wide. It has fine-textured light green foliage that goes completely
dormant in the winter, even in low desert locations. In the late summer
and fall it sends up purple-tan spikes that dry to a wheat color. Its
growth requirements and habits are very similar to those of Deer grass,
and it is also hardy to 0° F.
Saccharum ravennae
Ravenna grass Burned
out on Pampas grass? Ravenna grass, native to the Mediterranean and
Africa, makes a great alternative. It has a large, bold silhouette, showy
flower spikes, and is even hardier than Pampas grass, down to -10° F.
During warm weather it quickly forms a 5 foot clump of 1 inch wide, medium
green leaves. In the summer, 12 to 14 foot flower spikes develop, and
shimmering creamy silver plumes appear in August and September. The
foliage and flower spikes of this impressive grass turn a dramatic copper
color in the winter months. Clumps can be sheared back in early spring.
This adaptable grass thrives in both cold climates and the intense heat of
low deserts, although it requires long warm summers for flower
development. Reseeding can become a nuisance in very warm regions, so drip
irrigation is recommended. It seems to thrive in any soils. The flower
spikes are coveted for fresh and dried arrangements. Use it as a
background screen for smaller shrubs and grasses.
Schizachyrium
scoparium 
Little
bluestem Widespread across North America, Little bluestem's range extends
up to 10,000 foot elevations. Native stands of Little bluestem show great
variability in growth forms and appearance. Plants range in height from 2
to 4 feet tall, and foliage color varies from green to blue. Dormant
foliage can also vary in color, from tan to rusty red. Blue-leafed plants
are more likely to develop reddish winter color. Little bluestem tends to
have a very upright form, and fine-textured foliage. The flower spikes are
not particularly showy, but develop into seed heads that are striking when
backlit by the sun. This clump grass is very adaptable, tolerating
temperatures down to -30° F as well as hot summers, and thriving in
alkaline or acid soils. However, it does not perform well in soils with
excessive moisture or nutrients. Mix it into a meadow planting with
wildflowers and grama grasses, or in other full sun exposures.
Sporobolus
airoides
Alkali sacaton While Alakali sacaton is used primarily for
reclamation and revegetation projects, it has great potential as an
ornamental grass. It has a very useful and desirable growth habit, forming
a rounded clump to 3 feet tall by 4 feet wide. The wide green leaves turn
gold in the fall, drying to a tan color in the winter months. In the
summer it sends up tall, airy, rosy flower spikes that fade to buff. These
graceful spikes show up especially well against dark-colored walls. Alkali
sacaton grows in virtually any soils, including difficult saline
situations. These traits, combined with its usefulness in soil
stabilization, have made it an effective reclamation grass. Alkali sacaton
is native across the western U.S. and Mexico, at elevations from 2500 to
6500 feet. It thrives in hot low deserts, and is cold hardy to -20° F.
Nasella tenuissima (Stipa tenuissima)
Mexican feather grass,
Threadgrass This delightful little grass is soft and inviting, bringing a
unique texture to any landscape. Light breezes turn this fine-textured and
billowy grass into living sculpture. Mexican feather grass grows to 18 to
24 inches tall and wide, forming a clump of threadlike leaves and stems.
In the warm months Mexican feather grass is a refreshing chartreuse color,
changing to gold as the temperatures drop. Tuck it among boulders and
accent plants for a softening effect. It is spectacular in mass plantings!
At higher elevations it thrives in full sun, but appreciates light shade
in the low deserts. It is fast-growing and fairly short lived, but
naturalizes in the landscape. To keep reseeding to a minimum, water with a
drip irrigation system and avoid planting in regions with high rainfall.
Mexican feather grass can be cut back in early spring to remove dormant
foliage and dried seed heads. It is native to New Mexico, Texas, Mexico
and Argentina, at elevations from 5000 to 7000 feet. It is cold hardy to
-10° F.