- Ornamental grasses native to Texas are hardy and require little maintenance.grass image by Pencho Tihov from Fotolia.com
Native Texas grasses have sustained wildlife, livestock and people for centuries. In modern times, people value hardy grasses for their ornamental effect of adding vertical form to landscapes. Information from the Colorado State University Cooperative website points out that ornamental grasses give gardens things that other plants cannot, such as movement and sound. They require very little maintenance and many have low demands for water. Choosing the right grass for your landscape involves consideration of heights, colors and textures. - Ornamental grasses include the shorter turfgrasses as well as the waving grains people usually think of. Buffalo grass is a popular turfgrass in Texas because of its blue-green color and fine texture. It is a native grass that supported the herds of buffalo on the Great Plains and helped settlers by providing the sod that built their houses. Richard L. Duble, professor and turfgrass specialist at Texas A&M, calls buffalo grass the only truly native Texas turfgrass. Duble recommends using buffalo grass along roadsides, in schoolyards and on golf courses and cemeteries.
- Sideoats grama is the largest of all the gramas, or pasture grasses. Sideoats has color throughout its life, and its sleek and graceful form grows from 15 to 30 inches. The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes sideoats as bluish green in spring, although it sometimes has a purplish cast. Later in the year it turns to a reddish-brown or straw color. The plant bears seed shoots that hang to the side, making the grass easy to identify. Sideoats has no known insect or disease issues. Texas paid homage to this native plant in 1971 by naming it the state grass.
- Gulf muhly is a native plant that manages to look good all through the year. In the fall, the 2-foot clump bears magenta seed plants that look amazing as components for vertical design or backdrop. When planted in front of taller grasses or behind flowers, muhly lights up Texas landscapes with contrasting textures. Since muhly is a native grass, it is not easily susceptible to disease or pests. This native plant has been selected by the Plants for Texas Program, which means that it has been tested and found to be appropriate for planting throughout the state.
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