I can’t remember what year it was, but my husband and I were enrolled in the first Master Naturalist class offered in San Marcos when the course was interrupted by a flood. Unfortunately, that hiatus marked the end of our participation in the class, which may or may not have been resumed at some point. All these years later, I can still recall what subject we were to cover next. It was the subject I most needed to learn about: grasses.

I’ll be honest with you. Grasses are hard—and not just for me. More than once, I’ve posted a photo of some grass only to find that even the experts in the native plant group I’m consulting can’t ID it either. They want to see it blooming, or with seeds, or maybe with both. And even then, they might have to pass.

So the native grasses I’ve been able to identify on our property—with or without help—are few. There’s the plains love grass that grows out near the street, and the windmill grass with its distinctive whirligig crown. There’s also rescue grass, an introduced cool season annual that comes up in patches, here and there around the yard. Unfortunately, that’s about all that I can do.

This ignorance on my part is one reason I head straight for the grasses at any native plant sale or nursery that I visit. Buying these plants—and leaving the little plastic label stake in the ground beside each one—has become my means of education.

What are the best options for planting this time of year? Fortunately, Central Texas is blessed with a number of easy-to-grow grasses, many of which bloom in the fall. Look for these when you’re out on the trail, or when you’re checking out what’s available at your local nursery.

• Little bluestem: This is probably my favorite, and therefore the one I’ve purchased most often. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center describes it as a “very ornamental bunchgrass with fine-textured foliage that forms very dense mounds.” In the fall, that foliage can turn “radiant mahogany-red with white, shining seed tufts.” Although it can become extremely tall, mine has topped out at just a foot or so. The reasons I like it?  Its size is definitely a plus, as is its color. But the main consideration for me is that it will grow in partial shade, something I have plenty of.
• Gulf muhly: The name notwithstanding, this plant thrives in Central Texas. It’s not fazed by drought or poor soil, and it offers a striking pink color in the fall. It’s described as a “true Texas Superstar plant” by Texas A&M Agrilife. Indeed, because of its striking appearance, it’s often used in place of non-native specimen plants like fountain or pampas grass. Is there a downside? Only if you don’t have room for it—and it can get pretty big—or lack the sun it prefers.

  

• Lindheimer muhly: This is another of our larger bunch grasses that is frequently used in place of non-native species. Although it also blooms in the fall, its effect is much less impressive than that of Gulf muhly. Beginning with light pink near the base, the color of Lindheimer’s is ultimately white. This doesn’t mean it isn’t a striking plant, though, because it is. Brent Pemberton, ornamental horticulturist with Texas A&M Agrilife, says “their neutral tones work well as a background to colorful flowers or as landscape specimens surrounded by colorful plants.”
• Blue grama: The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center describes this grass as “[t]he most drought-tolerant native turf grass, more so than Buffalograss.” It can “survive with as little as 7 inches of rain annually.”  One of our shortest ornamental natives, this grass reaches only 1-2 feet when in bloom, 4 inches otherwise. For this reason, it’s a great addition to a sunny wildflower bed. Grown easily from seed, blue grama is an important larval host for a number of butterfly species, as well as a food source for birds.
• Sideoats grama: The state grass of Texas, this is the largest of the grama grasses at 18 to 40 inches in height. Sideoats grama can be recognized by what the Lady Bird Wildflower Center refers to as “purplish, oat-like spikelets uniformly [lining] one side of the stem, bleaching to a tan color in the fall.”  It’s definitely a unique look. Like most other native grasses, sideoats grama is an important source of food and cover for skipper butterflies, wild turkeys, Bobwhite quail, and a host of other birds. It also makes a great addition to wildflower gardens.
• Texas bluegrass: I saved this grass for last because it’s quite different from the rest. It’s native to our state, but you’re not likely to find it in any of our natural areas. At home on the Great Plains and in woodlands, it’s most often found in North Texas. That said, it can also thrive in Central Texas—my garden being the proof of that. As the website nativegardeners.com states, “This lovely grass grows in clumps and showcases narrow, dark blue-green leaves. Come spring, delightful fluffy silvery flowers, reaching about 2-3 feet tall, gracefully rise above the greenery, adding a touch of beauty to your garden.” Texas bluegrass is a remarkable plant: It’s drought tolerant, grows in the shade, withstands foot traffic, spreads easily from rhizomes, and attracts butterflies. What more could you want?

For more information about Texas grasses, consult these resources:

• • • • Native American Seed, Junction, TX
    • Grasses of the Texas Hill Country, Brian Loflin & Shirley Loflin, Texas A&M University Press