Plant List - Grasses

Appropriate Grasses for the Texas Panhandle

Grasses are an important component of our landscape. No other plant looks as good in the wind as grass! Most of the grass species listed below can be used in beds or borders, some for turf, and some for land reclamation in difficult alkaline and saline soils. Be mindful of any grass that increases by stolons and rhizomes--your flower bed is not the best location. As with any plant, match the grass to its purpose and location.

Whether planted in mass, forming waves or drifts, sprinkled among herbaceous beds and borders, or as single specimens, grasses add texture, color, and motion to every landscape. Laying back on a breezy summer and fall day just listening to the rustle of leaves as the wind moves through their leaves is one of the more pleasing sounds one encounters in nature.

Native grasses are an important habitat plant, providing food and shelter to large and small animals, insects and birds. Many animals find shelter from predators; increasing the species diversity in any area. Many provide nutritional grazing and forage. Native grasses combine naturally with forbes in prairies, savannahs, and meadows throughout the world. A landscape without grasses would be truly desolate.

For all the benefits grasses offer, they seek precious little in return. The grasses listed here are for the most part native, and are either low or medium water-use. Many native grass species do not require supplemental irrigation.

By far, grass is a sun requiring plant. I've noted a few that need afternoon shade under our hot and searing summer sun.

Maintenance requirements are low as well. Once established (which occurs quickly), grass roots grow deep and wide. In late winter, cut off last year's grown to about 2-3 inches of ground level and compost these leaves. There are a few evergreen grasses listed below -- those should not be cut off. Lightly rake out dried and spent stems.

Clump forming or bunch grass can be divided in late winter through early spring. Simply slice through, dividing the root ball in half, thirds or quarters, depending on the size of the clump, and transplant or share with friends.

Medium water-use grasses benefit from an annual addition of an inch or two of compost in the bed, either spring or fall. Then just sit back in your lounger and listen to the wind.

Turf grass, of course, requires a bit more care, depending on the species selected. Please refer to the sections on turf and turf care.

Andropogon geraldii, Big Bluestem, perennial, drought tolerant, warm season, ornamental clump forming bunchgrass, 3-8' tall, depending on moisture. Native to tall grass prairies throughout North America. Can be aggressive in the long term in moister settings.

Andropogon hallii, Sand Bluestem, warm season, sod forming tallgrass. Great for sandy soil, as its aggressive nature will stabilize it. Cold hardy and heat tolerant, low water-use requiring 12+ inches of moisture a year, more for coarse or sandy soil. White fuzzy plume in summer to 4 ft. tall, leaves only 1-2 ft. tall, turning a rosy pink in autumn. Will form a dense sod if mowed.

Andropogon saccharoides, now called Bothriochloa saccharoides. Silver Beardgrass, 3' x 8' tall. Warm season perennial bunchgrass with wiry stems and fluffy white seed heads in summer, about 2 1/2 feet tall. Heat and drought tolerant. Very attractive.

Andropogon smithii, Western Wheatgrass. Cool season perennial grass that spreads by rhizomes and spreads too densely to be used as an ornamental. But a good ground cover grass; forms a solid cover. Not necessarily heat tolerant unless supplied with more moisture. Coarse wheat-like seed plumes.

Aristida purpurea, Purple three awn grass. Warm season bunch grass that can spread over time. Limit reseeding by cutting off seed heads if used in flower beds. Heat and drought tolerant. Slender purple-reddish leaves from May until the summer heat begins, then the color fades to a tawny blond. Grow 6 inches tall forming 8 inch clumps, with plumed grass about 2 feet tall.

Bouotelous curtipendula, Sideoats gramagrass. Upright native, warm season, clumping grass. Designated the State Grass of Texas is 1971and is widespread throughout the US (really, from Canada into South America). Grows up to 30 inches tall. Large seeds hang from one side of a stiff stem.

Bouteloua gracilis, Blue gramagrass. Perennial, drought tolerant, warm season sod forming grass of mid height; a dominant grass of the short grass prairie. Can be used with buffalograss for turf grass. Germinates quicker than buffalograss, usually in 5-7 days. In areas of heat and drought, it can be clump forming, rather than sod forming. Mow to 4 inches high. Do not water excessively, can survive quite well on our rainfall. Eyelet seed head.

Bucheloe dactyloides, Buffalograss. Our North American native turfgrass, native to the shortgrass prairie and elevations below 7,000 ft. Sod forming warm season perennial grass grows to 4-6 inches tall. Spreads by stolons, will grow on most soils but prefers heavy clay soils to sand. Once a month mowing and watering, usually. Can be watered more often, if necessary.

Calamagrostis arundinacea, 'Karl Foerster' Karl Foerster Reed Grass. Cool season perennial bunch grass. One of the most erect ornamental grass, up to 3 ft, with plumes to 5 ft. One of the first ornamental grasses to plume out. Average garden soil with low to medium water. Will perform better with supplemental watering.

Calamagrostis brachytricha, Korean Feather Reed Grass, Clump forming warm season grass native to Asia. Prefers moister conditions and clay soil. Attractive with pinkish flower plumes to 4 feet, green foliage to 2'.

Cynodon dactylon, common Bermudagrass. Non native turf forming grass spreads by seeds, tillers, rhizomes and stolons. Perennial warm season grass. Medium to medium high water-use. Many turf varieties available.

Distichlis stricta, saltgrass, desert saltgrass. Warm season sod forming grass up to 8 inches tall, spreads by rhizomes. Native to parts of western US, it tolerates saline and highly alkaline soils up to 9.6 pH. Good for reclamation of poor soils.

Eragostis tricodes, Sand lovegrass. Native east of the Rockies to most of the US. Mid height clumping perennial grass. Lovely ornamental summer blooming grass.

Festuca arundinacea, turf type tall fescue. A common perennial cool season turf grass over much of North American, including the Texas Panhandle. High water-use turf. Many varieties available.

Festuca ovina glauca, ornamental blue fescue. Short, perennial, clump forming 8" x 15" , medium water-use. Prefers afternoon shade. Evergreen, native to Europe. Does not like intense heat or high humidity.

Helictotrichon sempervirens, Blue ovena grass, Blue oat grass. Blue evergreen, cool season clump forming, mid height, ornamental grass to 18" x 18". 24-30" with summer seed head. Place in afternoon shade. Medium water-use with good drainage..

Hilaria jamesii, Galleta. A warm season, low growing and spreading reclamation grass. Takes heavy traffic. Vigorous spreader, not for a flower bed or garden.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracilus', Maiden hair grass. Warm season clump forming perennial grass, grows to 5-6' tall. Plumes are white in late summer, very attractive. Medium water use. Many other varieties available. Non-native.

Muhlenbergia lindheimeri, Lindheimers muhly grass. Tall, from 2-5 ft., warm season perennial bunchgrass, native to the Edwards Plateau of Texas. Will grow in clay, sand, caliche and loam soil. Do not cut back in spring. Cold hardy zone 7 - 11. Different varieties available.

Muhlenbergia capillaries ‘Regal Mist’, Texas native, cold hardy to at least Zone 7 (I’ve had several for 3 winters now),leaves up to about 12 inches and plumes 3' tall. Very attractive rosy pink plumes in late summer.

Nasella tennuifolia, Silky thread grass, 18' x 12', soft textured perennial bunchgrass, Texas native grass, quite cold hardy. Flows nicely in the wind. Drought and heat tolerant. Spreads by seeds some. Can be a nuisance in moist circumstances.

Oryzopsis hymenoides (Achnatherum hymenoides), Indian rice grass, Cool season perennial bunchgrass. Attractive airy seed heads in early summer. Panhandle and western native and drought tolerant.

Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky', Prairie Sky switch grass, 4-5' tall x 2 feet wide. Tall grass prairie native perennial warm season bunch grass. Quite versatile, will grow in many soil types and moisture conditions. Attractive blue-green foliage, nearly blue leaves. Mid summer blooming. A number of other selections are available, including 'Shenandoah'.

Pennisetum alopecuroides, Chinese Fountain Grass. Cold hardy clumping ornamental grass, up to 4' tall and 2 feet wide. Attractive bottlebrush or caterpillar shaped plumes in summer. A number of other pennisetums are grown, even the non-cold hardy Purple Fountain Grass that is often replanted each summer -- a good container grass.

Schizachyrium scoparium ’The Blues’, or 'Prairie Blues' little bluestem grass 2' x 15" wide. Shortgrass native warm season bunchgrass through out much of North America. 'The Blues' is an attractive blue selection. Also available in the nursery trade is 'Blaze' with striking fall red foliage.

Sorghastrum nutans, 'La Cueva Selection'. Le Cueva Indiangrass. Native to tallgrass prairies, grows to 4-5' tall and 15-18" wide. Warm season perennial grass adaptable to most soils. Low and medium water-use.

Sporobolus airoides, Alkali sacaton. Native perennial warm season tufted grass. Airy seed panicles stand tall above the leaves. Will grow in clay, alkaline and saline soils as well as silty loam. Heat and drought tolerant.

Sporobolis heterolepis, Prairie dropseed. Native to Great Plains and areas east of the Rockies. Low water-use mid-grass with airy, symmetrical seed heads. Attractive ornamental bunchgrass.

Sporobolus wrightii, giant sacaton grass, warm season grass, 5-6' x 3', tolerates clay and saline soils very well. Very heat tolerant.

Stipa comata, needle and thread grass, Up to 30" tall tufted perennial bunchgrass grass, early blooming, in spring. Native and wide ranging throughout the west.