Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_43.gif)
Wednesday - February 08, 2012
From: Blacksburg, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Turf, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Native grasses and turf grass for VA
Answered by: Anne Bossart
QUESTION:
I recently moved to Blacksburg, Virginia. I am becoming involved with a church here that recently started a grounds committee. There is some discussion within the group of which varieties of native grasses to plant. Some sections of the grounds are shaded, and some have full exposure. Fully exposed areas are currently covered by turf grasses. Big blue stem, little blue stem, switch grass, Indian grass are under consideration for exposed sites. Should any of these be removed from consideration for this region? Should any species be added? As a recent transplant from north Texas, my mind gravitates towards buffalo grass, but I don't know if I am out of its native range here. Is it important to consider ratios for each species for getting these plants established? Another consideration is that some of the exposed areas are intended for foot traffic.ANSWER:
All the grasses you mention for the exposed area are good choices for your area and are ornamental as well.
Andropogon gerardii (Big bluestem)
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little bluestem)
Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
For the shadier areas you might want to also consider
Bouteloua curtipendula (Sideoats grama)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Deschampsia cespitosa (Tufted hairgrass)
or one of the many carex's native to your area like
Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)
These grasses are all best used planted in drifts and not mowed to appreciate their ornamental qualities.
In the areas where you anticipate foot traffic you are looking for a suitable turfgrass. It is not so easy to find a native one as most of the grasses used for lawns in North America are non-native adapted species. That is because before European contact, turf grasses were only present in areas where there were openings in the forest that covered your part of the country. You will find more information on that subject at americanlawns.com, this USDA publication and this article on lesslawn.com.
As you suspected, Bouteloua dactyloides (Buffalograss) is a possibility for your situation. It is native to sunny, dry sites from Minnesota to Mexico but is present in Virginia. You can also consider Festuca rubra (Red fescue) and other fescue mixes such as Eco-Lawn (which is not entirely native) and available from one of our associates Wildflower Farm. You can learn more about Buffalo grass lawns and (just for interest's sake as you will always be a Texan) Habiturf from our How to Articles on the topic.
From the Image Gallery
More Turf Questions
Grassburs in native lawn in Utopia TX
June 22, 2010 - I recently planted native Texas grass (Buffalograss, blue grama & curly mesquite) at my new house in the hill country. I had to bring in all the top soil. The grass is doing great, but in one area o...
view the full question and answer
Environmentally friendly and drought resistant alternatives to St. Augustine grass
September 28, 2006 - As a member of the planning committee of our property owners association in Wimberley TX, we are researching ways to make our landscape environmentally friendly and drought resistant. We have 60,000 ...
view the full question and answer
Cause of yellowing buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides)
June 07, 2008 - We are getting large yellow areas in our buffalo grass lawn and think this is probably due to grub worms. Are grub worms the likely culprit and if so, what is the best way to get rid of them? We don...
view the full question and answer
Native replacement for non-native Bermudagrass in Leander TX
October 16, 2011 - We have Bermuda grass. Large patches have died due to the drought and our yard has been taken over by weeds and St. Augustine grass whose seeds must have blown in. Even when the grass was in great con...
view the full question and answer
Did my neighbor's zucchini affect my apple tree from Oak Lawn, IL
October 26, 2009 - My neighbor planted zucchini plants near a flowering non-fruit producing apple tree in my yard. Soon afterwards in July the tree began to shed leaves. Could the zucchini plant have caused this?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |