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Grow a Bunch of Native Grasses & Sedges!

When I started gardening, “grass” was something your parents hoped you’d never smoke or that you had to mow on Saturdays. These days, we’re lucky to have a grassroots interest in growing native grasses that bring beauty and positive ecological impact to our gardens.
Lindheimer muhly native clumping grass fall bloom with Salvia leucantha Central Texas Gardener
John Hart Asher, senior environmental designer with Ecosystem Design Group, broadens our garden perspectives with options for sun to shade, including sedges for that lawn look. Since 2019, he’s also CTG’s host, but this round, we’re on opposite sides of the webcam until we’re on the other side of the pandemic!
John Hart Asher Ecosystem Design Group
First, what’s the difference between clumping (bunch) grasses and lawn grass (turfgrass)? They’re both graminoids, distinguished by elongated stems (culms) with long, blade-like leaves. Lawn grasses spread for that carpet look through above ground stems (stolons) or by underground stems (rhizomes). Clumping or bunch grasses, like Lindheimer muhly, tend to stay put.
Lindheimer muhly native grass fall flowers Wildflower Center Central Texas Gardener
Some clumping grasses do spread by rhizomes, like my Texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera), a cool season grass for part shade. A spring bloomer, it’s waving its 15” silky plumes these breezy days. It handles my clay soil and very limited summer watering regimen just fine.
Texas bluegrass Poa arachnifera native grass for shade Central Texas Gardener
Sedges clump. Eventually, these drought-tough plants seed out, too, and with patience, will fill part shade for that lawn look.
Front yard sedge lawn Central Texas Gardener
So, then, what’s the difference between sedges and grasses? Grasses are in the Poaceae family. Some are cool season, blooming in in spring. Others are warm season, flowering summer to fall. They can be annual or perennial and grow in sun or part shade. Stems are hollow and either round or flat. Lindheimer muhly is a warm season grass that you can easily find.
Lindheimer muhly seed heads Central Texas Gardener
Sedges belong to the Cyperaceae family. They are perennial (but seed out), bloom in spring, and need part shade. Stems are solid and triangular. To quote John Hart, “Sedges have edges!”
Sedge, Carex texensis
Use large grasses to create a visually powerful swath or hedge of sorts to define an area.
Lindheimer muhly fall flowers and Plateau goldeneye Wildflower Center Central Texas Gardener
Lindheimer muhly roses native perennials Antique Rose Emporium chapel Central Texas Gardener
Fall’s when they take center stage. Here, bushy bluestem grabs foreground attention against supporting cast Lindheimer muhly.
Bushy bluestem fall flower head with Lindheimer muhly grass flowers Wildflower Center Central Texas Gardener
Any time of the year, accent your designs with contrasting foliar color, shape, texture, and height.
Gulf muhly accent against native prickly pear cactus and silver ponyfoot groundcover B Jane front yard Central Texas Gardener
Shorter grasses replace lawn in pocket prairies, an option that John Hart and his wife Bonnie Evridge chose for their backyard makeover.
pocket prairie design native grasses and flowers John Hart Asher Bonnie Evridge Central Texas Gardener
In winter, clumping grasses provide winter shelter for birds and butterflies. Birds pluck them in nesting season. Beneficial insects bore into larger stems to hunker down in cold weather to patrol our gardens later.
Wigwam and Pollen Grain Chris Levack sculptures Southwest Greenway Mueller Lindheimer muhly fall color Central Texas Gardener
Their deep roots help control erosion. They sequester carbon, capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to reduce its amount in the atmosphere. In rain gardens—depressions in the soil that collect and infiltrate rainwater runoff—they accept drought to flood swings.
Rain garden sedges Lindheimer muhly Gulf muhly UT Austin Central Texas Gardener
Spring’s a great time to plant from seed or container transplants. John Hart stepped us through the seeding process: loosen soil, add an inch of compost, spread the seed, and rake lightly. Don’t plant too deeply!
prep ground for seeding native grasses John Hart Asher photo Central Texas Gardener

To establish grasses by seed
• First 10 days: keep moist
• Next 3 weeks: water every other day
• Net 2 weeks: twice a week

Some grasses are not available by seed, so if you choose transplants, water to establish. You may need to get transplants of little bluestem and big bluestem to inoculate the soil for spreading seeds later.
Little bluestem native clumping grass Central Texas Gardener
So, what can you plant? For shade, including dry shade, Texas bluegrass (Poa arachinifera) is a short, spring-blooming option that can handle some foot traffic.
Texas bluegrass Poa arachnifera Central Texas Gardener
Inland sea oats is a great choice to fill a part shade spot (even accepting sun blasts) under trees or along shady fences. It does seed out, which in my garden I consider a bonus. A swath really stands out.
Inland sea oats native grass for shade Central Texas Gardener
Its fall seed heads are simply gorgeous and very vase-worthy for indoor arrangements. Whack them down to the ground in late winter. You can also move unwanted seedlings to new areas or even containers.
Inland sea oats native plant for shade fall seed heads Central Texas Gardener
Texas wintergrass (Nassella leucotricha) is one I want to get this year! Thank you to horticulturist Adam Black for this gorgeous photo on his dappled shade property in Brazos County. A good friend of CTG, Adam’s now the program manager for Smithsonian’s The Global Genome Initiative.
Texas winter grass Nassella leucotricha photo by Adam Black
I’ve been adding transplants of Melic grass (Melica nitens) in my part shade areas thanks to Patrick Kirwin and Scott Ogden who showed me its beauty. It’s becoming more available (I also got a few more plugs from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plant sale last fall). Here’s the Kirwin/Ogden established design.
Native melic grass for shade Central Texas Gardener
Patrick and Scott chose a sedge, Carex leavenworthii, for a wandering path through trees. Recently it’s been dubbed the “lawn sedge.”
Carex leavenworthii lawn sedge for shady areas Central Texas Gardener
I’ve got Carex texensis. John Hart also recommends C. blanda and C. perdentata.
sedge Carex texensis central texas gardener
Admittedly, I get confused about the sedges, because names have changed over the years. In any case, they’re perfect for those part shade areas, including under live oak trees.
Native sedge Carex retroflexa patio design part shade Central Texas Gardener
You’ve got lots of options for sun including big bluestem. Here’s two others, little bluestem and prairie wildrye.
prairie wildrye and little bluestem Blackland Prairie Half-Pint Urban Prairie Central Texas Gardener
Along with Lindheimer muhly, there’s deer muhly, seep muhly, and burgundy-flowered gulf muhly (and lots of hybrids, when you can find them). Here’s Lindheimer and deer.
Lindheimer muhly and deer muhly
And burgundy-hued gulf muhly, also called gulf coast muhly.
Gulf muhly fall color Central Texas Gardener
To shield a view or define a conversation cove, switchgrass grows to a hefty 8′ tall!
Native switchgrass for sun privacy screen Central Texas Gardener
Medium grasses include sideoats grama, the state grass of Texas.
Sideoats grama Texas state grass Central Texas Gardener
And Blue grama, including hybrid ‘Blonde Ambition.”
Blonde Ambition Blue Grama grass Central Texas
In John’s garden, he combines Habiturf with green sprangletop, sideoats grama, and purple threeawn.
Although the family’s youngsters and dogs can certainly romp in it, Habiturf can’t handle a lot of whomping. In play areas, John Hart just fills in with new plugs or seeds when needed.
Native grass backyar pocket prairie John Hart Asher with Ed Fuentes of Central Texas Gardener
Habiturf, created by the Wildflower Center to replace lawn in sun, combines buffalo grass, blue grama, and curly mesquite. Get their tips to prep, plant, and establish.
Habiturf native grass lawn demonstration garden Wildflower Center
Habiturf Sources
Native American Seed (Thunder Turf)

Douglass King Seeds (Habiturf)

Find native grass transplants at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Spring Plant Sale April 1 – May 30.

Get all of John Hart’s tips and plant selections right now, including when to prune.

Thanks for stopping by! See you next week!

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