Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by nick lowe on November 18, 2008 at 1:50pm

What is your climate zone? We use pink muhly grass it is a native to the united states.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Spiering on November 18, 2008 at 7:46pm

I am in the Bay Area of Northern California, so the climate zone vary. We use pink muhly here, as well, and I am a huge fan.

Thanks!
Andrew

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Permalink Reply by Mike on November 18, 2008 at 9:38pm

Anyone have a source for the Aristida? I'm also in Northern California, but inland. Our local natives nurseries don't seem to carry it.

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Permalink Reply by Morgan Vondrak on June 16, 2010 at 12:35pm

Aristida purpurea is a gorgeous native!! If you are in CA then I highly recommend using it! It has more of the 'floppy' form that the Mexican Feather Grass has vs. a slightly stiffer form to the pink muhly (which is also beautiful).

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Permalink Reply by nca777 on June 16, 2010 at 2:23pm

I've been using alot of the following:

Miscanthus sinensis (Maiden Grass)

Blue Avena (can't rememeber horticultural name)

Schyzochyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)

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Permalink Reply by al fathi on June 17, 2010 at 5:55am

imho, try Pennisetum setaceum. its versatile and share similar traits.

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Permalink Reply by Michael O'Brien on May 7, 2012 at 12:12pm

Pennisetum?!?!?!? OMG!?!?!?!?! It's even more invasive than Mexican Feather Grass. Vast swaths of the California Coast have been taken over by it. It even likes the desert (Phoenix). Attached is a view from La Piedra State Beach, where we State Parks volunteers have been battling it or years.

Attachments:

• pennisetum setaceaum La Piedra.JPG, 501 KB

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Permalink Reply by David J. Chirico on June 17, 2010 at 7:34am

Looks a little like Karl Foerster's Feather Reed Grass, Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

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Permalink Reply by Rob Halpern on June 17, 2010 at 7:38am

Ornamental grasses are quickly becoming a serious source of invasives in many parts of the country. Miscanthus has gotten completely out of hand in some areas, Pennisetum too.
In the Central part of the country, Eragrostis trichodes has a texture similar to Nasella, if soil and watering conditions will suit. But it is not native to California, so what will it do there? (In the Bay Area I suspect very little problem, but inland it could be different)
The Bay Area has so many weird micro-climates that it is difficult to make suggestions without doing all the homework (What works at the western ends of Golden Gate Park is not the same as in Oakland)

Don't neglect the sedges

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Spiering on June 23, 2010 at 7:11pm

Good call. Sedges are wonderful. Do you have one in particular that you favor?

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Permalink Reply by Jon Quackenbush on June 23, 2010 at 1:56pm

Precisely why I am all for the exclusive use of native to your area plants, especially is large scale projects. Why fight what nature has adapted to for your area? Have some pride in your bio-region!

I am seriously considering starting a native tree and shrub nursery, its unfortunate that a vast majority aren't available.

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Permalink Reply by Tanya Olson on June 23, 2010 at 6:46pm

I agree with Rob H. on this one - be sure to check out the sedges. They also tend to be very fine textured. Also Sporobolus airoides - like the sedges, not hair-fine like the Nassella. The Aristida is gorgeous, though if you can get it. I like it better than the Nassella!
Also check Festuca mairei - very similar to the Aristida. I've used it before in Petaluma and got lots of compliments (and its a bit of a departure from the typical Festuca californica). Its available (plus lots of sedges) from Cornflower Farms.

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