Grasses

Question 1

Blue Grama

Answer 1

Bouteloua gracilis

Water Use: Very low - Low

Blue grama can be used as a turfgrass or as an ornamental bunchgrass interplanted with perennials. Either way, it should be allowed to go to seed to show off the unique gray- to golden-colored “eyelash” flowers. Blue grama is a warm-season grass that will green up in late spring. It has a gray-green color and a fine texture that adds softness to low-water landscapes.

Question 2

Idaho Fescue, Blue Fescue, Field Fescue

Answer 2

Festuca glauca, F. idahoensis

Water Use: Low

The ornamental blue fescues have silvery-blue foliage, a mounding habit, and an appealing show of golden brown flowers. They are drought tolerant, salt tolerant, deer resistant and easy to grow. Plant in full sun for best color. Afternoon shade is welcomed in the heat of the summer. Cut off seedheads in early spring. Avoid cutting foliage, and instead, gently pull dead foliage from the plant with your hands in early spring.

Question 3

Atlas Fescue

Answer 3

Festuca mairei

Water Use: Low - Moderate

Atlas fescue forms an arching bright-green mound with tawny inflorescences that bend with the long blades. Though the plumes themselves are not showy, their graceful form is useful when repeated or used as an accent. Semi-evergreen, Atlas fescue is a low-maintenance plant that is stunning planted en masse. This robust fescue is a cool-season ornamental grass that deserves a place in every low-water landscape.

Question 4

Blue Oat Grass

Answer 4

Helictotrichon sempervirens

Water Use: Low - Moderate

The open, airy form of blue oat grass works well in areas where height and openness are both desired. The flowers are held high above the foliage on arching wands and fade to an attractive straw color after blooming. Place where you can enjoy their shimmering beauty when backlit.

To maintain this grass, do not cut back, but istead pull dead inflorescences from grass early spring.

Question 5

Muhly Grasses

Answer 5

Muhlenbergia spp.

Water Use: Low - Moderate

Muhly grasses (Muhlengerbia spp.) have fine foliage and hazy inflorescences that are often tinged pink. Muhly grass is native to rocky, alkaline soils in the Midwest and Southeas, which makes it a perfect plant for the Great Basin as long as it is used in zone 5 or warmer. Muhly grasses are tolerant of poor soils and drought, but more water means taller growth. A couple of popular muhly grasses that work well in the Intermountain West include the following: 
M. reverchonii is more cold tolerant than pink muhly grass (M. cappillaris), and just as attractive. Ruby muhly grass forms mounded clumps of fine foliage with a haze of pinkish inflorescences.

M. lindheimerii ‘Autumn Glow’
Native to Texas, Lindheimer’s muhly is a warm-season grass that forms a mound of narrow pale green leaves. Autumn Glow™ has tall, upright plumes of reddish-yellow flowers that fade to a silvery color in the fall. It is excellent used as a specimen plant or used in groups. It is a more fan-shaped alternative to ‘Karl Foerster’ in warmer areas of the Intermountain West. Tolerant of inudation.

Question 6

Mutton Grass, Mini Blue Oat

Answer 6

Poa fendleriana

Water Use: Low

Similar in appearance to blue oat grass (Helictrotrichon sempervirens), but smaller mini blue oat grass is a native grass that is becoming more available in the nursery industry. With it’s similar bluegrey foliage and growth pattern it makes a great plant for the landscape. The blades are rough to the touch, stiff and tightly folded with boat-shaped tips.

Question 7

Little Bluestem

Answer 7

Schizachyrium scoparium

Water Use: Low

Little bluestem is hard to beat for its summer foliage, distinctive fall color, and shimmering inflorescences that persist into winter. The bluish color of little bluestem turns to a rich, rusty-pink color in the fall. When given too much water, this upright bunchgrass flops over, so restrict water once established.

Question 8

Indian Grass

Answer 8

Sorghastrum nutans

Water Use: Low

This tall and narrow native grass is under-appreciated in the landscape. Blooms late summer to early fall with large tawny plumes. Valued by wildlife.

Question 9

Alkali Sakaton

Answer 9

Sporobolus airoides

Water Use: Very low - Low

Alkali sacaton is a tough grass found in some of the nastiest, saltiest, rocky soils in the high desert, but softens the summer desert landscape with its light, airy, almost gossamer flower stalks floating over its narrow, fine-textured foliage. Unlike many of its high-desert neighbors, it can grow in both heavy clay soil and in well-drained sandy soils.