Plant List for: Grasses
Common Plant Name Latin Name Height Spread Evergn Decid Light Water Color Months Bloom Type Plant Wildlife Tx. Native Deer Res. Comments Maintenance
Bushy Bluestem Andropogon glomeratus 4-5' 2' D Sun MH Fall foliage Fall Grass Bird √ √+ Will tolerate over watering. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Fescue, Blue Festuca cinerea 'Elijah Blue' or other varieties 8-12" 8-12" E Sun M Foliage   Grass     √ Clumping ornamental grass. Suited for edging borders or mass planting. Fast growing.  Plant in well-drained soil. Tend to die back in hot dry weather & should be watered to prevent browning of foliage  In heavy, poorly drained soils fescue tends to die out in the center. Divide frequently to maintain vigorous growth.
                             
Fountain, Dwarf white Pennisetum alopecuroides Hameln 1-3' 1-2' D Sun M Plumes start greenish-white and turn tan July-Sep Grass     √ Considered deer resistant & drought tolerant once established. Clump forming grass that is good for mass planting. Blooms earlier than most species.  Needs well drained soil. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans 3-5' 4-5' D Sun MH Gold seed heads October Grass Bird, Butterfly √ √+ Loves moist rich soils and responds well to watering. Good accent plant in garden. Grows well with seep Muhly. Plant stays low most of the year and gets tall before fall blooming. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Inland Sea Oats Chasmanthium latifolium 2-4' 2' D Part shade to Shade MH Ivory seeds Summer and Fall Grass Bird, Butterfly √ √+ Shade tolerant grass with lovely seed heads. Locally abundant in moist loamy soils of creek bottoms. Cut to basal rosette in winter when it becomes tattered.
                             
Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium 2-5' 1-2' D Sun L Spikelets Fall Grass Bird, Butterfly √ √+ Prairie plant, more appropriate for meadow garden.  
                             
Lovegrass, plains Eragrostis intermedia 1.5-3' 3' D Sun/part shade L     Grass   √ √+    
                             
Lovegrass, sand Eragrostis trichodes 2' 2-4' D Sun/part shade L     Grass   √ √+   Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Lovegrass, weeping Eragrostis curvula 2-3' 3-4' D Sun/part shade L Silver gray Late summer to fall Grass Bird   √+ Fine textured densely tufted clump grass. Leaves green in summer; often yellow to bronze in winter. Can be used as erosion control and grows well in areas that are steeper or have uneven slopes. Plant was imported from S. Africa. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Mexican Feather Grass Stipa tenuissima 1-3' 2' D Sun M Silvery color Summer Grass Bird √ √+ Elegant weeping form; very drought tolerant. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Miscanthus Adagio, Dwarf Miscanthus sinensis "Adagio" 2-3' 2-3' D Sun/part shade M Pink plumes Fall Grass     √ Clump forming grass with reed like stem. Leaves arch to the ground. Flower heads are plumes that form in late summer. Similar to Maiden Grass but more compact. Best in full sun & moist soil. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Miscanthus Gracillimus or Maiden Grass Miscanthus Sinensis "Gracillimus" 3' 5-6' D Sat M Copper plumes Fall Grass     √ Valued for fine-textured foliage & rounded overall form. Mature specimens tend to flop, especially if at all shaded, too moist, or if fertility if high. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Miscanthus Morning Light Miscanthus Sinensis "Morning Light" 4-6' 2-3' D Sun M Pink plumes Fall Grass     √ Looks particularly good when planted with large-leaved perennials for contrast. Also good specimen plant. Has average water needs but is drought tolerant once established. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Miscanthus Zebra Maiden Grass Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' or Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus' 5-7' 3-10' D Sun/light shade M Plume September Grass     √ Strictus' is upright clumping grass, 'Zebrinus' has a more informal dropping form. Both like fertile well drained soil but are tolerant of most soil conditions. Interesting leaf color of green with horizontal bands of golden-yellow strips. Flower stalks can raise 2' above foliage. Good planted as specimen or group plantings. Remove old growth in early spring before new growth emerges.
                             
Muhly, Bamboo Mulenbergia dumosa 3-6' 5-6' E Sun/part shade L     Grass Bird   √ Can be a mounding plant if cut back in May. Grows much better with summer water but can be drought tolerant. Native to Arizona & New Mexico. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Muhly, Bull Muhlenbergia emersleyi 3-4' 3' D Sun/part shade L Purple to tan Fall Grass Bird √ √+ Habitat similar to Lindheimer Muhly Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Muhly, Deer Muhlenbergia rigens 1-3' 1-3' D Sun L Tan Sep -Nov Grass Bird √ √+ This is dense clump grass. Frequently found in gravelly, sandy washes. Flowers are inconspicuous with spikes only slightly taller than the foliage. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Muhly, Gulf Coast Muhlenbergia capillaris 2' 2' D Sun/part shade L Pink Fall Grass Bird √ √+ Seep Muhly is the Central TX native version compared to Gulf Coast Muhly native to S. Texas. Spectacular feathery pink seed heads in fall. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Muhly, Lindheimer or Big Muhly Muhlenbergia lindheimeri 2-5' 3' D Sun/part shade L Silver plume Fall Grass Bird √ √+ Found growing near seeps. Excellent alternative to Pampas grass. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Muhly, Pine Muhlenbergia dubia 1-2' 1-2' D Sun L seed heads Fall Grass     √+ Grows in drier locations than Big Muhly. Needs good drainage to survive. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Muhly, Purple Muhlenbergia rigida 2' 2' D Sun L Purple to pink seed heads Fall Grass   √ √+ Native to W. TX. Similar to Seep grass of Central Texas & Gulf Muhly of S. Texas. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Muhly, Seep Muhlenbergia reverchonii 1-3' 2' D Sun LM Pink Fall Grass Bird √ √ Similar to Gulf Muhly but native to our region. Mostly found in limestone prairies. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Muhly, Weeping Muhlenbergia dubiodes 18" 2' D Sun L Cream Fall Grass     √+ Wonderful arching leaves. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Natal ruby grass Rhynchelytrum repens 2'   D Sun or light shade LM Purple-red Fall Grass     √ Native to Africa. Clumping, fine-textured mound of narrow leaves. Has showy, pink to purple-red flowers in early autumn.Good in mass plantings. Has naturalized on open sandy places in Texas, Florida & Arizona. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Pink Crystals Ruby Grass Melinus nerviglumis 2' 12-15" D Sun/part shade M Ruby plumes turning silver as age Summer Grass     √ Beautiful ruby flower heads. Plant Select winner in 1998. Leaves are bluish-green that change to purplish-red in fall.  
                             
Purple fountain grass Pennisetum setaceum  3-4' 1.5' D Sun/part shade LM Tan plumes Fall Grass     √ Grows in upright clump. The foxtail like plumes will appear mid summer and last until first frost. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Sedge, Berkeley Carex tumicola 1' 1' E Sun or shade L     Grass   √ √ Forms small clumps; drought tolerant once established. Excellent tough groundcover; thrives under trees and tolerates foot traffic; can be mowed periodically for a lawn effect. Prune unattractive foliage
                             
Sedge, Blue Carex flacca 6-10" 10" E Sun or shade M     Grass       Forms mat of bluish-green foliage. Can be used as a ground cover or in rock gardens. Likes moist soil.  Native to Europe & N. Africa Prune unattractive foliage
                             
Sedge, Cedar Carex planostachys 6" 6" E Part shade L     Grass   √ √+ Tolerates mowing and foot traffic. Makes great mixed carpet with violets & golden groundsel in deciduous woodland or with cedar sage under Ashe juniper. Prune unattractive foliage
                             
Sedge, Texas Carex texensis 6-8" 8" E Part shade L     Grass   √ √ Similar to Cedar Sedge. It is rhizomatous rather than clump forming and makes a thick mat. It can get quite tall in moist sandy shade. This is a good turf substitute for dry shade. Prune unattractive foliage
                             
Side Oats Gramma Bouteloua curtipendula 2-3' 1' D Sun/part shade L     Grass Bird, Butterfly √ √+ Stays low during spring so good with wildflowers. Can be mowed once before June & after first frost.  State grass of Texas. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
                             
Stampede Buffalo Buchloe dactyloides 4-6"   D Sun L     Grass Butterfly √ √+ Doesn't do well in shade. Provides easy care free lawn. Mow as desired
                             
Switch Grass Punica virgatum 3-8' 4' D Sun/part shade M Reddish tint in fall Fall Grass Bird √ √+ Form of bunchgrass that looks fine if never cut back. Upright tall habit. Prefers moist areas. Gray green foliage is nice large specimen in garden, turning rich gold in fall. Cut back before spring growth if desired.