Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - September 17, 2014
From: Kensington, CA
Region: California
Topic: Groundcovers, Turf, Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Alternative for HABITURF® in Contra Costa County, CA
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We live in Kensington, just north of Berkeley, in the San Francisco area. We intend to get rid of our water consuming lawn and we are wondering what kind of alternative you would suggest. You don't specifically recommend your Habiturf for California.ANSWER:
Habiturf® is recommended for Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona, but there is a California alternative called UC Verde Buffalograss developed by UC Davis and UC Riverside for the hot dry climate of California and lower Arizona.
The City of Santa Barbara has an ariticle, Water Wise Lawn Alternatives, that has three possibilities that grow in, or adjacent to, Contra Costa County:
- Agrostis pallens (California Bent Grass) Here is more information from University of California Cooperative Extension Sacramento County.
- Carex pansa (Sanddune sedge) Here is more information from Bay Natives in San Francisco.
- Carex praegracilis (Clustered field sedge) Here is more information from Pacific Horticulture.
Here are some possibilities that aren't grass or grass-like:
Epilobium canum (Hummingbird trumpet) Here is more information from San Franciso Botanical Garden and Las Pilitas Nursery.
Armeria maritima (Thrift seapink) Here is more information from Las Pilitas Nursery and from Perennial Resource.
Fragaria chiloensis (Beach strawberry) Here is more information from Las Pilitas Nursery and from Marin Master Gardeners.
From the Image Gallery
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Searching for nursery with yellow nutsedge in NC
January 27, 2014 - I'd like to plant yellow nut sedge as a cover to stop erosion in a lot. Where can I buy yellow nut sedge plants near Kinston, North Carolina? Thank you.
view the full question and answer
Identification of native wild grass in Austin
February 01, 2009 - I had some landscaping done in my yard in Austin. My aim was minimal care so I requested native Texas plants. I am plant illiterate and just now looking in the City of Austin "grow green guide" to...
view the full question and answer
East Texas grasses for holding soils
September 17, 2008 - Hi Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have a question about the East Texas area: Specifically, which natvie grasses can be planted to hold the soil/new roads through the winter?
Here is the situation: (Against...
view the full question and answer
Plants for aerobic septic system in Houston
February 03, 2011 - My husband and I would like to plants some trees and shrubs, but we have an aerobic system taking up most of the yard :( Can you recommend any trees that won't hurt that? Also shrubs for our weath...
view the full question and answer
Planting Habiturf in Houston, TX>
March 08, 2012 - First, I want to say thank you for such an informative site.
You say that the Buffalograsses tend to do well in drier and well drained soil. My house has a lawn that drops about 10 inches in about...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |