Many species of grass indigenous to the United States can be grown in naturalistic, massed plantings in place of a traditional turfgrass lawn. All species need “full sun” sites unless otherwise indicated. In general, these grasses should be mown only once a year in late spring.
1. Agrostis hyemalis (ticklegrass)–dry to moist open forest, 18-24″; bunch; cool season; mow no lower than 3″ (A. alba), (A. scabra)
2. Agrostis pallens (bentgrass)–meadows and woodlands 8-16″; bunch, cool season, sometimes rhizomed, mowing directions same as above
3. Andropogon ternarius (split-beard bluestem)–dry, widely adaptable, can tolerate coastal conditions 12″, bunch, warm season, mow no lower than 3-4″
4. Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge)–dry to moist, tolerates poor soil 12″; bunch, warm season, mowing directions same as above
5. Aristida purpurea (purple three-awn)–well-drained site, drought tolerant 6-12″; bunch, warm season, mowing directions same as above
6. Aristida spiciformis (bottlebrush three-awn)–droughty and poorly drained soils; can’t take high pH 10-15″; bunch, warm season, mowing directions same as above
7. Aristida stricta (pineland three-awn or wiregrass)–same as A. spiciformis 15″; bunch, cool season, mow same as above, (A. beyrichiana, similar grass in southern part of state)
8. Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)–dry, drought tolerant, pH adaptable 12-24″; bunch, warm season, could be left unmown; if mow, no lower than 3″
9. Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama)–dry, drought tolerant, can grow in sandy or loamy soil, pH adaptable 8-12″; bunch, warm season, mow same as above
10. Buchloe dactyloides (buffalograss)–dry, widely adaptable but prefers clay soil, tolerates drought, cold, and poor soil 4-6″; spreads by stolons; warm season
yes not necessary to mow but if do, no lower than 3″
11. Carex pansa (California meadow sedge)–sandy or well-drained soil, coastal and inland conditions, full sun to part shade 4″; rhizomatous, not necessary to mow but can be done 2-3 times a year if desired
12. Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)–sandy soil, dappled shade 6-8″, creeping; not necessary to mow but can be done 2-3 times a year (no lower than 4″)
13. Carex perdentata (Texas meadow sedge)–heavy or sandy soil, sun or shade 4-6″, creeping, almost clumping, no need to mow
14. Carex praegricilis (tufted field sedge)–prefers moist sites but is drought tolerant, 4-6″, bunching/rhizomatous, not necessary to mow
15. Carex senta (Baltimore sedge)–deep shade, similar adaptation as C. texensis, 3-4″, clumping, no need to mow
16. Carex texensis (Catlin sedge)–adapted to a wide variety of climates from southeast to southwest, part to full shade 3-4″, mat-like clumping, no need to mow
17. Danthonia californica (California oatgrass)–coastal foothills; prefers moist, open sites 4-8″, bunch, mow once a year in early spring
18. Deschampsia caespitosa ssp. holiciformus (tufted hairgrass)–coastal marshes and meadows, light shade, tolerates drought 18-24″, bunch, cool season; if want to keep low can mow 2-3 times a year
19. Dicanthelium spp. (low panicum or switchgrass)–partial shade (such as understory in open forest), tolerates varying degrees of moisture three growth phases, never taller than 18″, clump that spreads, warm season, no need to mow but if so, do in late spring
20. Distichlis spicata (saltgrass)–salt marshes; moist, alkaline areas 8″, rhizomatous,
can mow 3-4 times per year if desired
21. Eragrostis elliottii (Elliot’s lovegrass)–dry, sandy soil 18-24″; bunch with rhizomes, warm season, mow once a year in spring
22. Eragrostis spectabilis (purple lovegrass)–adapted to wide range of soils but not heavy, wet, 12-18″; bunch with short rhizomes, warm season, mow once a year in spring; no lower than 4″
23. Festuca californica (California fescue)–woodland species; shade tolerant 18-24″; bunch, cool season, can be mowed if prefer to keep it low or cut once a year in spring
24. Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue)–open woods, rocky slopes, 4-8″, bunch, cool season, mow once a year in spring
25. Festuca ovina (sheep fescue)–moist, well-drained, does not like hot, humid summers 5-10″; bunch, cool season, mow once a year in early spring, no lower than 3″
26. Festuca rubra (red fescue)–widely adaptable, tolerates shade, will need some water in dry climates 8″; creeping, cool season, mow no lower than 3″
27. Fescue spp. (Prairie Nursery No-Mow mix)–loam, clay, and dry, sandy soils; not suited for wet soils or deep shade, 4-6″; bunch and creeping, cool season, mow no lower than 3″
28. Hilaria jamesii (galleta)–well-drained, sandy soil, 12-20″; rhizomatous, warm season, once a year in early spring, no lower than 3″
29. Hordeum brachyantherum (meadow barley)–moist site, bottomlands 8-30″; bunch, cool season, mow once a year in early spring
30. Koeleria cristata (synonym macrantha) Junegrass–dry, gravelly, drought tolerant 16-20″; bunch, cool season, could mow but no lower than 3″
31. Melica californica (California melic or oniongrass)–mountain meadows; rocky woods; shade tolerant, needs shade in southern California; 2-4′; does not form a mound at ground level, cool season, mow once a year after flowering
32. Muhlenbergia capillaris (purple muhly)–sandy or rocky soil, tolerates drought and wind 12″; bunch; warm season, mow once a year in early spring, no lower than 3″
33. Muhlenbergia wrightii (spike muhly)–high elevations in west where more rainfall occurs 18″; bunch, cool season, mow once year in spring, no lower than 3″
34. Nassella pulchra (purple needlegrass)–widely adaptable, drought tolerant, full sun to part shade 1-2-‘, bunch, cool season; mow 2-3 times per year, do not mow close to ground in early spring
35. Nassella cernua (nodding needlegrass)–foothills, 1-2-‘, bunch, cool season, mowed same as above
36. Nassella lepida (foothill needlegrass)–dry hills, open woods, rocky slopes 1-2′, bunch, cool season, mowed same as above
37. Oplismenus setarius (basketgrass or woodsgrass)–moist, shady environment 3″, creeping, forms roots on stem where it touches soil surface
38. Oryzopsis hymenoides (Indian ricegrass)–well-drained, sandy soil, tolerates heavy soil and alkaline conditions, drought tolerant 12-14″, bunch, cool season
39. Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)–dry to moist, pH adaptable 12-24″, bunch, warm season, mow once a year in early spring
40. Sporobolus junceus (pinewoods dropseed)–droughty soils of upland pinelands and poorly drained soil of Florida prairies 18″; bunch, warm season