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 FULL-SUN
TO PART-SHADE NATIVE GRASSES NEEDING OR TOLERATING IRRIGATION: |
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| Alkali
Sacaton |
Sporobolus
airoides |
Characterized by soft, arching, green foliage topped by delicate, windblown,
open panicles which are produced from June-frost. To 3 feet with foliage,
5 feet with panicles. Full sun to light shade, moist soil, very salt-tolerant.
Mow in late winter. Hardy to Zone 5, warm-season bunchgrass. |
Photograph
available soon. |
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| Bigtop
Lovegrass |
Eragrostis
hirsuta |
Provides
a green, misty cascade in the garden, to 6 feet across and 2 feet tall.
Prefers sand, but tolerates well-drained clay. Full sun to part shade,
water occasionally, mow in late winter, hardy to Zone 6, warm-season bunchgrass. |
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| Broomsedge
Bluestem |
Andropogon
virginicus |
Excellent orange winter color. Tight bunch, green in summer, full sun,
to 4 feet tall; moist, well-drained soil. Warm-season, hardy to Zone 5,
mow in winter. |
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| Bull
Muhly |
Muhlenbergia
emersylii |
Neat,
arching bunch of fine-textured, green foliage to 2 feet tall. Purpled
panicles on delicate stems above foliage to 4 feet. Full sun; moist, well-drained
soil; warm-season, hardy to Zone 6. Mow in winter. |
Photograph
available soon. |
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| Bushy
Bluestem |
Andropogon
glomeratus |
Stout,
cinnamon stems to 5 feet for striking winter color. Green in summer, warm-season
bunchgrass, likes moist, well-drained soils near water or irrigated. Full
sun, hardy to Zone 5, mow in winter. |
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| Canyongrass,
Bunch Cutgrass |
Leersia
monandra |
A warm-season bunchgrass hardy to Zone 7, sprawling nature makes it ideal
as a softener or accent around rocks in part-shade to full sun. Height
to 1.5 feet, well-drained soils a must, occasional watering OK. |
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| Common
Reed |
Phragmites
australis |
A
warm-season, aggressively rhizomatous wetland grass which invades drier
surrounding areas readily, and moves into 1.5 feet of water. 'Shoreline'
cv. is especially aggressive, even growing into shade and uphill. Stems
are soft, easily cut, unlike Arundo donax. Excellent control on lakeshores
against wave erosion, shelter for spawn and other wildlife. Purple tassels
become white flags in winter. Worldwide distribution. Does not block waterways.
Height to 12 feet, graceful in wind. Full to part sun. |
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| Eastern
Gamagrass |
Trypsacum
dactyloides |
A
warm-season bunchgrass with short rhizomes resembling caterpillars. Deep,
thick roots suited to heavy, moist clays. Excellent foliage production
plus roots gives control against washout in waterways. Dwarf form gets
to 5 feet, usually smaller. Full form gets to 7 feet. Hardy to Zone 5,
foliage resembles a fountain, "winter cinnamon" form is cinnamon on foliage
in winter. Full to part-sun. |
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| Gulf
Muhly |
Muhlenbergia
filipes |
A
warm-season bunchgrass suited to full sun and well-drained soils. Occasional
irrigation. Fine-textured, mauve heads in fall fade to sandy in winter,
retain structure. To 2.5 feet, clip in late winter. Hardy to zone 7. |
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| Hairyawn
Muhly |
Muhlenbergia
capillaris |
A
warm-season bunchgrass suited to full sun and well-drained soils. Occasional
irrigation. Fine-textured, mauve heads in fall fade to sandy in winter,
retain structure. Same appearance as Gulf Muhly, only 6" to 1 foot taller.
To 2.5 feet, clip in late winter. Zone 6-7. |
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| Indiangrass |
Sorghastrum
nutans |
A
warm-season, rhizomatous species suited to full sun and well-drained soils.
Occasional irrigation OK. Foliage varies from drooping and green to stiffly
upright and blue, yellow tassels in fall to 5-8 feet. Fades to sandy in
winter, mow then. Hardy to zone 4. Control rhizomes with bottomless 5-10-gallon
pot. |
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| Lindheimer
Muhly |
Muhlenbergia
lindheimeri |
A
warm-season bunchgrass of effusive, arching, blue-green foliage to 3 feet
tall, topped by a halo of feathery heads in fall to 6 feet. Enjoys moist,
heavy clay soils and full sun to light shade. Needs occasional irrigation.
Hardy to zone 7. |
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| Longspike
Silver Bluestem |
Bothriochloa
saccharoides var. longipaniculata |
A warm-season bunchgrass with semi-prostrate culm bases becoming ascending.
Produces many fluffy, white heads from May-frost. Likes full sun and well-drained,
moist soils, tolerates irrigation. Hardy to zone 7. Height to 4 feet. |
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| Longspike
Tridens |
Tridens
strictus |
A
warm-season bunchgrass producing elongated, golden heads in late summer,
this grass needs occasional irrigation and full sun. It reaches 3.5 feet
in height and is hardy to zone 7. It turns golden from the top down in
the fall, remaining a strong, vertical presence in the landscape through
winter. |
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| Lowland
Switchgrass |
Panicum
virgatum |
A
warm-season bunchgrass with short rhizomes, forming a tall (to 8 feet),
cascading bunch with hanging, luxuriant foliage topped by large, delicate,
open panicles. Hardy to zone 4, needs full sun and moist soil. Tolerates
heavy, wet sites near water. Excellent control against washout. Foliage
color ranges from silver-blue to intense green in summer, sandy to intensely
cinnamon in winter. Head color varies from that of foliage to purple and
even red. Character of the plant endures during winter after foliage fades.
Excellent screen or centerpoint. Irrigation needed unless soils are moist.
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| Prairie
Cordgrass |
Spartina
pectinata |
A
warm-season, aggressively rhizomatous, freshwater species with some salt-tolerance.
New rhizomes have dagger points, making a colony difficult for beavers
to burrow into, protection for dams and other streamside areas. Extensive
colonies offer excellent washout protection, growing streamside into 1
foot of water and tolerating extensive temporary flooding and occasional
droughts. Foliage ascending-arching, to 6 feet,topped by heads resembling
compact combs. Leaf edges serrated, but tough leaves useful for weaving.
Heavy, moist soils tolerated. Hardy to zone 5. |
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| Coastal
Cordgrass |
Spartina
spartinae |
A
warm-season bunchgrass with rolled, sharp-pointed leaves to 3 feet tall
topped by dense spikes. Excellent salt tolerance. Full sun to part shade,
moist to wet soils. Foliage may purple during winter. Hardy to zone 7+.
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| Sand
Lovegrass |
Eragrostis
trichodes |
A
warm-season bunchgrass, cv. 'Mason Sandhill' certified by the SCS as adaptable
to a very wide range of well-drained soil types. Luxuriant foliage to
1 foot tall, produced in full sun to part-shade until midsummer, when
the plumes, resembling ostrich feathers, grow to 3.5 feet tall. Excellent
backlit. Tolerates some irrigation. Hardy to zone 5. |
Photograph
available soon. |
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| Seep
Muhly |
Muhlenbergia
reverchonii |
Found
on seasonally moist erosion benches of harder limestone in limestone hills
of the Fort Worth Prairie down into the Hill Country. Hardy to Zone 6,
drought-tolerant, blooms in the fall with a straw and mauve, fine-textured
head which fades to straw colored in the winter. Neater and more formal
in appearance than Gulf or Hairyawn Muhly, but equally delicate. height
to 2 feet, bunch form, warm-season plant for full sun. |
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| Silver
Plumegrass |
Saccharum
alopecuroideum |
A
warm-season bunchgrass notable for extreme height (to 12 feet or more)
in wet soils, topped in fall by silver-purple heads. Excellent dried,
resembling a feather duster. Becomes a bronze column in winter, as a winter
focal point or accent. Full sun, hardy to zone 7. |
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Southwestern Bristlegrass |
Setaria
scheelei |
A
warm-season bunchgrass noted for bristly, pyramid-shaped heads to 3 feet
tall. An excellent seed source for wildlife, full-sun to part-shade, dry
soils to occasional irrigation. Excellent dried ornamental. Hardy to zone
5. |
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| Texas
Bluegrass |
Poa
arachnifera |
A
cool-season, rhizomatous grass noted for very early seedheads waving gently
on delicate stalks to 2 feet tall and appearing wrapped in spiderwebs.
Full sun to part-shade, well-drained soils, tolerates irrigation. Excellent
in perennial beds, finished blooming as early-blooming perennials bolt,
does not choke them. May suppress crabgrass germination. Hardy to zone
4. |
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| Tumble
Windmillgrass |
Chloris
verticillata |
A
warm-season bunchgrass, resembling a pillow of windmills tight against
the ground. Full sun to part shade, well-drained soils a must, rarely
irrigate. To 2 feet, usually shorter, blooming from May-frost. Hardy to
zone 5, foliage blue-green. |
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| Upland
Switchgrass |
Panicum
virgatum |
A
warm-season, aggressivly rhizomatous grass of full sun to part shade.
Tolerates drier soils than Lowland Switchgrass, blooms earlier, height
to 5 feet (usually shorter) with narrower stems and foliage. Foliage color
ranges from silver-blue to intensely green, topped by delicate panicles
ranging from foliage-colored to red or purple. Winter color ranges from
sandy to intensely cinnamon. Hardy to zone 4. Tolerates occasional irrigation,
needs well-drained soils. |
Photograph
available soon. |
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©2007 Bluestem Nursery, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact
us for more information.
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