Our grasses – 1

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

  • KEYSTONE means they are listed by National Wildlife Federation as core plants for a wildlife garden in my ecoregion (Ecoregion 8).
  • NOT QUITE NATIVE means they are slightly out of range but adjacent to NYS as determined by GoBotany and NY Flora Atlas.
  • Otherwise the plant is a NY-native or native to the area noted.

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

Big bluestem

Its seedhead shows why its nickname is turkeyfoot.

Wildlife: Cover and nesting sites for many songbirds
Larval host: Delaware skipper, Dusted skipper
Deer resistance: High
** PROVIDES NESTING MATERIALS / STRUCTURE FOR NATIVE BEES **

Sideoats grama
(Bouteloua curtipendula)

  I had planted this years ago, but it disappeared through benign neglect. I planted a new one (9/19), and I’ll try to keep track of it since it’s an interesting little plant.

MIDWEST NATIVE: Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 

Blue grama grass

I especially like its seedhead.

I was disappointed to later find out that it was a Midwest native — a plant I probably got at a native plant conference I attended in Ohio before I was aware of the subtleties of “native.”

At any rate, I believe this has died out / been crowded out, so I don’t have to worry about it anymore!

Wildlife: Seeds for birds
Larval host: Garita skipperling, Uncas skipper, Pahska skipper, Green skpper, Rhesus skipper, Simius Roadside-skipper

NOT QUITE NATIVE: Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

Northern sea oats

Northern sea oats with its golden herringbone seeds is especially gorgeous in the fall.

I love it, but I pull it out all the time. Why? Because it looks like it could rapidly take over the entire yard. I’ve tried to limit it to one area of the yard, but it doesn’t cooperate.

I don’t think I’ll ever be free of it, so I’ll enjoy the ones that survive my eradication efforts.

Wildlife: Seeds for birds, small mammals; nest materials for birds
Larval host: Pepper and salt skipper, Bells road-side skipper, Bronzed roadside skipper
Deer resistance: High

Tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa)

Tufted hair grass

A simple plant, but sturdy. I really enjoy it. It has very simple green foliage, but a group of them together is very attractive.

I also like the fine fine-textured “flowers” above the foliage.

Larval host: Umber Skipper

Bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix)

Bottlebrush grass
Bottlebrush grass ©Janet Allen

It’s easy to see how bottlebrush grass got its name! It gives a nice structural look to the garden. One of my most favorite grasses that I always coddle when I find it around the yard. It seems to grow well in the shade.

Larval host: Northern pearly eye

Purple love grass (Eragrostis spectabilis) 

Purple love grass
Purple love grass ©Janet Allen

I was always intrigued by purple love grass because Sara Stein mentioned it so often in her books. I love the rosy-purple color in the fall. I only have one plant so far — clearly inadequate to make any kind of display — but I hope I can divide it as it gets larger or reseeds so I’ll have a more noticeable display.

Deer resistance: High