Native Grasses for the Home Landscape
Alyce Neperud, Dakota County Master Gardener Intern
Native grasses, sedges and flowers can be stunning at any scale; from vast prairie to small garden. In addition to the visual appeal, they provide essential habitat for many native insects and birds. The vegetation of the mesic prairie ecosystems that once covered much of southern and western Minnesota included a profusion of flowering plants and grasses. These resilient plants adapted to survive cold winters, hot summers, flood and drought and are still excellent choices for most of Minnesota. This article shares the benefits of and considerations for making native grasses a part of your landscape.
Benefits of Native Grasses
Long lived perennials
Drought tolerant and soil stabilizers; due to deep root systems
Enhanced soil; fibrous roots slough off and break down into organic matter
Food source for wildlife; butterflies, skippers, birds
Shelter for native insects, including butterflies, moths and bees
Structural; support other plants
Competitive with weeds
Characteristics of Native Grasses
Primarily warm season grasses; grow in late spring and flower in the hot summer
Either clump or running growth habit
Wind pollinated; flowers are small, do not need to attract pollinators
Arrangement and branching patterns of florets in the seedhead (aka grass inflorescence) determine how grasses are identified, named, and classified
Design considerations for your site:
What are your goals? Are there any restrictions at your site?
What are your water and soil conditions? Some grasses are more suited to sandy, dry, high ground while some tolerate more wet conditions.
Do you prefer a formal or informal design? A formal garden generally takes more space so the plants can show their full shape and allow for layering of heights from front to back.
Do you prefer a mix of textures and shapes or a uniform look? The clump form grows outward slowly so is less aggressive and good for mixes while the running growth habit is beneficial if you want a single grass to fill in a space for a functional purpose, for example to stabilize a slope or create a mow-able lawn.
Short to medium height grasses are suited to locations with limited space where visibility and minimal spreading is desirable. Preferred grasses are generally shorter, of clump form, include visual interest from color and/or interesting seed heads, and mix well with low growing prairie flowers.
Prairie Dropseed is widely adapted to soils ranging from dry, sandy and rock outcrops to low, wet mesic habits. It is an elegant clump form, at 2-4’ height. The nativar “tara’ is shorter in form at 24-30”. See Reference #1 for more information.
Little Bluestem is an iconic species of Minnesota prairies that prefers loose, well-drained soil. Grows in clump form, at 2-4’ high. Host plant for several native butterflies, skippers. Showy, bright red in fall with shiny silver seedheads.
Blue Grama does well in dry, sand to loam soil, not clay. Clump form at height of 12-30”.Horizontal seed heads provide interest. See Reference #1 for more information.
Side Oats Grama is related, a bit taller at 2-3’ height, different inflorescence.
Junegrass does well in very dry, sandy soils. It is short, compact and upright at 2-3’ and mixes well with low-growing prairie flowers. A cool season grass; grows in early spring, flowers and sets seed late spring or early summer.
Tall Native Grasses are generally not recommended for home gardens as they may overtake flowers over time but they can be a feature, screen or backdrop for other plants where more space is available and/or height is desirable.
Big Bluestem is found throughout Minnesota. Grows in sand, loam, clay soil. It is tall at 8’, upright and open. It tends to self-sow and dominate and is subject to ‘lodging’ (falling over). Several nativars with different growing habits and color are available. See Reference #1 for more information.
Indian Grass is found throughout Minnesota and does well in dry to moist soils (sand, loam, clay) with a height of 5-7’. It is medium aggressive and tends to self sow. It has a good upright form with golden seedheads, looks great with little bluestem and medium to tall flowers at the back of a border or garden.
If you haven’t considered native grasses for your landscape before, it may be time to reconsider. Native grasses can be a stunning addition to your pollinator friendly garden.
References
Benefits of Native Grasses; explained in three short informative videos by University of MN Extension Professor and Horticulturist Mary Meyer.
On the same page as above; Free downloadable book “Gardening with Native Grasses in Cold Climates” by Diane M. Harem and Mary Hockenberry Meyer, includes information on grasses and flowers that together provide for the complete lifecycle of one or more Lepidoptera.
UMN Extension Planting and maintaining a prairie garden. Numerous links on selecting Native Plants.
Book “The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants” by Neil Diboll & Hilary Cox, copyright 2023, the University of Chicago Press.
DNR Mesic Prairie. Native Plant Encyclopedia; focus is on lakeshore management but also a way to look up distribution of native plants in the state.
Minnesota Wildflowers; a guide to the flora of MN.
Sites to visit
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Specialty Gardens; Ornamental Grass Collection.
Noerenberg Memorial Gardens in Wayzata. Many native and other grasses in a formal garden setting.
Photo Credit: Alyce Neperud (1-7)