Drought-tolerant native grasses are an excellent choice for landscaping in dry and arid climates.
As someone who has worked as a landscaper and home renovation specialist for many years, I have seen firsthand how these grasses can add beauty, sustainability, and functionality to a yard.
In this blog post, I’ll be sharing with you my top picks for drought-resistant native grasses, complete with descriptions, requirements, care instructions, and landscaping uses.
Whether you’re looking to save on water bills or add some vibrant greenery to your outdoor space, this guide will give you all the information you need.
Let’s explore the possibilities of these hardy grasses.
If you want a beautiful and low-maintenance grass for your landscape, you might want to consider Little Bluestem. This native grass is hardy and drought-resistant, making it ideal for those who live in hot and dry climates.
Little Bluestem is a perennial grass with narrow blue-green leaves that turn reddish-bronze in the fall. This grass can grow up to 4 feet tall, and it has an attractive upright habit.
This grass needs plenty of sunlight to grow well, at least 6-8 hours a day. It prefers well-draining soil and is adapted to various soil types. Little Bluestem grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-9, and it can withstand cold winters and hot summers.
Little Bluestem is a low-maintenance grass that requires very little care. It does not need fertilization and only requires minimal watering once established. Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot. You can prune it back in late winter to encourage new growth.
Due to its attractive appearance and ease of care, Little Bluestem is widely used in landscaping. It can be used as a border, in mass plantings or mixed with other taller grasses such as Indian grass or switchgrass. It can look great in containers or along walkways.
Overall, Little Bluestem is a reliable and attractive choice for your landscape, and it can provide a unique look to your outdoor spaces.
Want to add a touch of softness to your garden? Purple Love Grass is an excellent choice for those looking for a delicate grass that also happens to be highly drought-resistant.
Growing up to 18 inches tall, Purple Love Grass produces delicate purple flowers on thin stems that sway gracefully in the breeze. Their fine foliage has a greenish-blue tint, which turns a warm shade of copper in the fall.
Plant Purple Love Grass in well-draining soil in full sun for best results. It is not very picky about soil type, although it prefers poor to average soil quality.
Furthermore, it performs best in prairies, meadows, or wild gardens, as ornamental plants in rock gardens or as ground covers. It is very adaptable and extremely adaptable.
Maintenance is minimal for purple love grass. In the fall or early spring, cut back the clumps to about 6 inches to make way for new growth. It can tolerate mowing if you want to maintain the height at a consistent rate.
Incorporating Purple Love Grass into your landscape can provide year-round interest. While it makes an excellent stand-alone plant, it is also commonly paired with wildflowers, shrubs, or other native grasses.
Now that you know how wonderful this grass can be, why not give Purple Love Grass a try in your landscaping?
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a tall, native grass species that is ideal for landscaping projects where a natural appearance is desired. As one of the most versatile warm-season grasses, it has a place in various landscape and restoration practices.
Switchgrass typically grows between 3 and 6 feet tall, and its leaves have a bluish-green tint. It is a warm-season grass that is found throughout the Great Plains, eastern and southern United States.
Switchgrass is a relatively low maintenance grass species making it perfect for landscapers unwilling to devote time and resources to upkeep. It thrives best in sunny and moist conditions, but can also tolerate infertile soils and less-than-perfect temperatures. Ideally, switchgrass should be watered during dry spells to keep it in good shape.
Switchgrass requires little maintenance making it a valuable option for homeowners and landscapers alike. During springtime, cutting should be done when the new foliage is between 8 and 12 inches tall. Raking should occur after cutting to remove unwanted waste, and if necessary, fertilization is recommended too.
As a native grass, switchgrass is already quite popular with restoration and conservation practitioners across the country. Outside of this, it brings a natural, nontechnical and rustic look that works well with any home style. Landscapers sometimes incorporate switchgrass in connection with open lawns or near small water features such as a pond or water fountain. When it comes to exteriors, switchgrass also serves as an effective windbreak or noise barrier. The fact is, switchgrass seems to hold more potential than the average person gives it credit for.
Switchgrass is the go-to native grass if you’re looking for tall, ornamental grass that requires minimal supervision yet provides a unique and natural delight to the environment. If you’re looking for a way to improve the curb appeal of your landscape, consider switchgrass as an addition to your outdoor living space. You’ll love the way it blends in perfectly with your existing surroundings, adding a touch of natural beauty that is often missing in typical landscapes.
Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) is a tall grass that can reach up to eight feet in height. It has long, narrow leaves that are blue-green in color and turn golden-yellow in fall. The plant boasts of an erect growth habit and sends up tall, plumed seed heads in late summer.
Indian Grass is a native grass that thrives in regions that receive an average of 30 inches of rainfall annually. It tolerates a wide range of soils, from Sandy to clay, as long as the soil is well-drained.
The grass prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It grows best in USDA zones 4-9.
Indian Grass is a low-maintenance plant that requires little care once established. Provide it with regular watering during its first year, especially during the dry season. Once established, it can tolerate drought.
Pruning is essential for Indian Grass, best done in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. Cut back dead or damaged foliage and remove up to one-third of the plant’s height.
This grass is an excellent plant for the back of the border or as a screen. It’s also a great transitional plant. Indian Grass softens harsh features, such as corners or edges, and guides the eye through naturalistic plantings.
You can also use Indian Grass as a specimen plant alongside containers, fountains, or seating areas to make a statement. Its tall and textured appearance can make landscaping stand out in your garden.
Incorporating Indian Grass into your home landscape can provide a natural look while also creating an eco-friendly environment.
Big Bluestem is a tall grass that can be recognized by its blue-green stem and leaves that turn reddish-brown during the fall. It is a popular choice for landscaping due to its unique coloration and showy flowers.
If you want to grow Big Bluestem, it requires full sun exposure, and moist to slightly dry soil. It thrives in areas with hot summers and cold winters.
Like other native grasses, Big Bluestem requires little maintenance. It only needs to be watered occasionally and doesn’t require fertilizer. It should be planted in areas with good drainage because it doesn’t tolerate standing water.
Big Bluestem is an excellent choice for a wildlife garden. It provides food and shelter for birds, and its extensive root system helps prevent soil erosion.
If you are looking to add height and color to your landscape, consider planting Big Bluestem among shorter flowering plants. Its height may add visual interest to an otherwise uniform landscape design.
Remember that Big Bluestem is a native grass, so it is stress-tolerant and will require less maintenance than other non-native plants.
Blue Grama is a warm-season, drought-tolerant grass that is perfect for xeriscaping, which is a low water-use landscaping technique. It grows in compact clumps that resemble soft and wispy curly hair.
A true drought warrior, Blue Grama can survive lengthy periods of drought without going dormant. For gardeners, the fact that it is low maintenance is a big selling point.
Growing Blue Grama is relatively simple. It prefers sandy, well-drained soils and does not need fertilization, making it perfect for the minimalist gardener.
Maintenance is also low-key, and only requires occasional watering under severe drought conditions. The good news is that this species spreads through rhizomes and can replace dead grass with new growth, so it tends to look healthy and lush.
For landscaping uses, Blue Grama works great as a groundcover or planted in masses that look natural in wildflower meadows. It can help fill in your garden by being the glue that ties elements like rocks and flowers together. By adding some native perennials, the Blue Grama grass can help create habitat and food for pollinators.
In conclusion, Blue Grama is the perfect warm-season native grass for gardeners who want a low maintenance, drought-tolerant, and beautiful landscape. Its aesthetic and ecological characteristics make it a great investment for any garden or landscape design project.
Buffalograss is a low-maintenance native grass that requires minimal watering and produces a dense turf. It can grow up to 8 inches tall and has a gray-green color. Buffalograss is a warm-season grass that grows actively in the summer months and goes dormant during the winter.
To grow buffalograss, it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day. It can be grown from seeds or plugs, but plugs are recommended for quicker establishment. Buffalograss is best suited for well-draining soils with low fertility levels.
Maintenance and care of buffalograss is minimal. It should be watered deeply and infrequently, at least once or twice a month, depending on the moisture level of the soil. Overwatering can cause disease and root rot, so it’s important to monitor the soil moisture level. Buffalograss can be mowed to a height of 2-3 inches, but it doesn’t require frequent mowing as it grows slowly.
Buffalograss is a great option for people who want a low-maintenance lawn that requires minimal watering and mowing. It’s also suitable for regions with water restrictions and drought conditions. Buffalo grass can be combined with other native grasses and wildflowers to create a unique landscape that supports local wildlife.
In conclusion, incorporating drought-tolerant native grasses in your home landscaping is an excellent way to create a beautiful, low-maintenance yard that contributes to the conservation of natural resources.
These grasses are beautiful, functional, and easy to care for.
Before planting, however, be sure to research the specific needs and requirements of each variety.
With proper care, these grasses will thrive and provide years of enjoyment.
Which type of drought-tolerant native grass do you plan to incorporate into your yard first?
I’d love to hear about your plans and your experience with these types of grasses.
Please send me a message with your thoughts and feedback.
If you found this information useful, please consider sharing it with others who may be interested in learning more about drought-tolerant native grasses.
Sharing on social media is a great way to help spread the word and encourage others to create environmentally friendly landscapes.
Author: Scott Sanders
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