Little Bend Nursery
Plant List for: Grass
Common Plant Name Latin Name Height Spread Evergn Decid Light Water Color Months Bloom Type Plant Wildlife Tx. Native Deer Res. Comments Maintenance
Alkali Sacaton Sporobolis airoides 2-3' 2-3' D Sun L Pink panicles which turn golden Summer Grass   √ √ Clump forming grass with gray-green leaves that form a loose mound.  Open pink flower panicles arch to 5' which turn golden in fall.  This is a deep-rooted grass which is drought tolerant.  It is useful as large-scale groundcover and for erosion control.  It can also be used as a specimen plant in dry gardens.  
Blue Dune Grass Leymus areanarious ‘Blue dune’ 3-4'     Sun to light shade L Blue green spike that turns tan Summer Grass   Europe √ Cool season grass that is tolerant of hot weather.  Nice blue foliage but can be invasive.  Spreads by rhizomes.  Pretty with blue or purple flowers or maroon foliage. Appearance is improved if cut back after flowering.
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
Feather Reed 'Karl Forster" Calamagrostis xacutiflora 'Karl Forster' 2-3'   D Sun M Greenish spike with red tones rise 3-4' above foliage Summer Grass   Eurasia √ Cool season grass.  Prefers moist, rich soil in full sun.  The foliage grows in an upright, arching clump.  Good accent grass. Prune in mid-winter after first frost browns leaves.
Feather Reed 'Overdam' Calamagrostis xacutiflora 'Overdam' 2-3'   D Partial shade M Variagated foliage & greenish spike with red tones   Summer Grass   Eurasia √ Variegated feather reed grass.  Foliage is cream-white striped.  Not as robust as 'Karl Forster'. Prune in mid-winter after first frost browns leaves.
Fescue, Blue Festuca cinerea 'Elijah Blue' or other varieties 8-12" 8-12" E Sun M     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 "Little Bunny" Pennisetum alopecuroides  6" - 1" 6" - 1" D Sun/part shade M Plumes start greenish-white and turn tan July-Sep Grass     √ Excellent grass for rock gardens or to plant in front of a border or bed.  
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.  
Japanese Blood grass Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii 1-2' 2-3'   Sun/part shade M Red foliage   Grass     √ Prefers moist to wet soil but is drought tolerant after established.  This is a narrow upright grass that is useful in borders, rock gardens, containers and as an accent.  The foliage emerges green and turns red on the tips, becoming increasingly red as the season progresses.  It is best grown in groups.  Spreads slowly by rhizomes. Cut back after first freeze or before new growth appears in the spring.
Lemon Grass Cymbopogon ciatrus 3' 3' D Sun M     Grass     √+ Tropical plant grown in Asia, India and South America. It is a tufted grass with long, sharp-edged blades and grows in dense clumps.  Contains an oil that has biblical meaning.  Used in cooking Asian & Indian foods.  The lower bulbous portion of the stem is used for cooking.  Also considered to have medicinal properties.    Protect from freeze damage. Every few years will need to cut clumps into pieces if they get too woody.
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   √ √+ Grows best on rich soils on rocky, gravelly or sandy land. Cut back to 8" height prior to new spring growth
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-leafed 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 Bird   √+ 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 Bird √ √+ 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 Bird   √+ 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
Purple Threeawn grass Aristida purpurea 12"-20" 12"-20" D Sun L Purple inflorescence Spring-Fall Grass Butterfly √ √ Host food for butterflies.  Slow growing grass with beautiful purplish branches.  Grows in dry, rocky soils.  
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 Butterfly √ √+ 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, Butterfly √ √+ 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.