Short-Grass Meadow Blend
Species: little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus), silver bluestem (Andropogon ternarius), tickle grass (Agrostis haemalis), blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata, G. pulchella), plains coreopsis (Coreposis tinctoria), lance-leaved coreopsis (C. lanceolata), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), showy primrose (Oenothera speciosa), southern ragwort (Senecio aureus), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa).
Native: all
Height: 1 1/2-2 feet
Maintenance: Mow no lower than 4-6 inches once a year, best in late winter.
Ground Covers
1. Pussytoes (Antennaria dioica)
Native: yes
Characteristics: gray-leaved herb that forms a mat, evergreen, white blooms with pink tips held 2-3 inches above foliage in early spring.
Maintenance: trim with string trimmer in early spring if looks unruly or has some winter damage.
2. Clump verbena (Verbena canadensis)
Native: yes
Characteristics: low, spreading perennial with clumping habit; stems root where they touch the ground; red or pink blooms throughout the summer; two other nonnative verbenas that also work well are V. peruviana and V. tenuisecta.
Maintenance: cut back in fall if stems lose leaves or get too long, also encourages more dense growth.