Native Grasses are Gorgeous, and Important

See specific grass species profiles below.

Belonging to the grass family (Poaceae), grass species are an important but sometimes overlooked component of landscaping and/or restoration. With around 780 genera and around 12,000 species, the Poaceae is the fifth-largest plant family in the world, following the Asteraceae, Orchidaceae, Fabaceae and Rubiaceae. It is so important that we separate it into its own landscape category.

Photo of little bluestem (Schizachrium scoparium) by Jason Swanson, iNaturalist

Please plant native grasses. Some of the worst invasive species are grasses that were used as attractive landscape plants but are now displacing native species, like fountain grass (Pennisetum setacetum) or the red natal grass (Melinis repens). Many people don’t know these grasses are invasive, and though not offered in nurseries any longer, are still encouraged when they show up on their own.

Native grasses are extremely important plants for wildlife: as nesting material for birds as well as native bees and other insects, as habitat for many organisms, and as food: adult insects eat the foliage, granivorous birds depend on many species for seeds, and most grass species are used as larval hosts for many species of butterflies and moths, especially skippers. To give an idea of just how many butterflies are supported by grasses, the following species use our native grasses as larval hosts in Arizona:

Canyonland Satyr (Cyllopsis pertepida), Arizona Pine-Satyr (Paramacera allyni), Red Satyr (Cissia cheneyorum), Mead’s Wood Nymph (Cercyonis sthenele ssp. damei), Red Bordered Satyr (Gyrocheilus patrobas ssp. tritonia), Brown Longtail (Spicauda procne), Tropical Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha arene), Edwards's Skipperling (Oarisma edwardsii), Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca), Southern Skipperling Copaeodes minima, Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola), Purple-washed Skipper (Panoquina lucas), Faded Faceted-Skipper (Synapte shiva), Large Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes exoteria), Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus), Nysa Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes nysa), Toltec Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes tolteca), Orange-edged Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes fimbriata), Julia's Skipper (Nastra julia), Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala), Violet-clouded Skipper (Lerodea arabus), Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius), Northern Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus ssp. phyleus), Western Branded Skipper(Hesperia colorado ssp. susanae), Apache Skipper (Hesperia woodgatei), Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska), Green Skipper (Hesperia viridis), Carus Skipper (Polites carus), Huron Sachem (Atalopedes huron), Taxiles Skipper (Lon taxiles), Mexican Umber Skipper (Lon vitellina), Morrison's Skipper (Stinga morrisoni), Snow's Skipper (Paratrytone snowi), Deva Skipper (Atrytonopsis deva), Python Skipper (Atrytonopsis python), Sheep Skipper (Atrytonopsis edwardsi), Violet Banded Skipper) Nyctelius nyctelius ssp. nyctelius)

Many bee species collect the pollen of many species of grasses. All grass species can be used for desert tortoise enclosures, though the more spreading types are better for keeping up with a tortoise appetite, and the softer-textured species attract them more than the more coarse, or rigid-leaved grasses.

Grasses also play an important role in the ecology of soil, and because they are monocots, they can be planted close to other species of plants (the nature of the root systems of monocots renders them less imposing on neighboring plants). They hold soil down and help prevent erosion. Many species are pioneer plants that convert disturbed soils into hospitable places for other plants. Grasses hold organic material to the ground which improves soil, and many, many insects find habitat under grass plants—sometimes during their active seasons, sometimes overwintering under the mounds of foliage that protect them from predators, insulate them from bad weather, etc.

Grasses are ignored by many because of a lack of knowledge and misunderstanding of their lifecycle. Many of the larger species are planted into too small of a location (because the designers aren’t aware of their mature sizes). When they are cut back at the wrong time of year, they can look terrible for some time. Most of our species available to the trade are warm-season growing plants which may or may not go dormant in the winter (turn brown). When needed, grasses should be cut back in late winter before they start growing again (with the exception of a few winter-growing species). But if they look fine, they don’t need to be cut back. Many people enjoy the dormant look of native grasses because it gives them a sense of season. Many species may turn red, orange, or yellow before they turn brown.

The following species are the most likely to be available at Spadefoot Nursery (and other native plant nurseries). Some can be found as seed for larger restoration projects.