Top 5 Texas Native Grasses for Landscapes
These five native grasses in Texas are the easiest ways to add interest and texture to your garden! Not only do these perennial grass options look beautiful, they can tolerate drought conditions much better than traditional turf grass like St. Augustine.
These ornamental grasses are remnants of tall grass prairies that use to cover Texas. As native plants, they provide valuable ecosystems benefits, such as serving as the larval host for a variety of skipper butterflies and helping control erosion with their long roots.
Top 5 Native Grasses in Texas Landscapes
1. Lindheimer’s Muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri)
Also known as Big Muhly, Lindheimer’s Muhly is a stunning grass known for its graceful, arching form and airy seed heads in the fall.
Native to the Edwards Plateau area of Texas, it’s a popular choice for its drought tolerance. It is also a great addition to a wildlife habitat as it provides cover for birds and small animals during the fall and winter.
I love Lindheimer’s Muhly paired with Gregg’s Mistflower, as shown in the photo below.
- Average Height: 3-5 feet
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to part sun
- Seed Head Period: Late summer to fall
- Native Range: Central and South Texas, particularly in rocky soils and limestone outcrops
2. Gulf Coast Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
Gulf Muhly also goes by the common name Pink Muhly, and is one of my favorite ornamental grasses. This grass is famous for its vibrant pinkish purple seed head that create a cloud-like effect in fall landscapes.
It looks best when planted en masse as shown in the photo below. Gulf Muhly grass prefers occasional deep watering to look its best.
- Average Height: 2-3 feet
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to part sun
- Seed Head Period: Fall
- Native Range: Gulf Coast regions of Texas, often found in sandy or well-drained soils
- Larval Host: Orange Skipperling butterfly
3. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Little Bluestem is an attractive native grass known for its blue-green foliage that turns a rusty orange in the fall. I love the way the seedheads shimmer in the fall light.
Pair this with Big Bluestem to recreate a tall grass prairie habitat in your landscape!
- Average Height: 2-4 feet
- Sun Requirements: Full sun
- Seed Head Period: Late summer to early fall
- Native Range: Across Texas, from prairies to open woodlands, and can thrive in a variety of soil types, including sandy, rocky, and clay soils
- Larval Host: Skipper butterflies including Dusted Skipper, Crossline Skipper, and Cobweb Skipper
4. Inland Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Inland Sea Oats is an excellent option for shady areas. In fact, it is one of the few native grasses in Texas that thrives in the shade. It is known for its unique oat-like seed heads that add interest from summer through fall.
Inland Sea Oats can be spotted regularly growing in Texas parks in shady areas along the trails. This warm season grass goes dormant in the winter. New green growth will appear from the roots in early spring.
- Average Height: 2-4 feet
- Sun Requirements: Part shade to full shade
- Seed Head Period: Summer (green seed heads appear) – fall (seed heads turn brown)
- Native Range: East Texas, especially in woodlands, riparian areas, and shaded areas
- Larval Host: Pepper & Salt Skipper, Bells Road Side Skipper, Bronzed Roadside Skipper
5. Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)
Sideoats Grama is the state grass of Texas, recognized for its unique, oat-like seeds that dangle from one side of the stem.
Pair this with Blue Grama
- Average Height: 1.5-3 feet
- Sun Requirements: Full sun
- Seed Head Period: Summer to early fall
- Native Range: Throughout Texas, from north Texas prairies to rocky slopes
- Larval Host: Orange Skipperling, Green Skipper, Dotted Skipper
Where to Buy Native Texas Grasses?
Many native plant nurseries across Texas carry these five native grasses. Check out my list of the top 10 Texas native plant nurseries to find one near you (several of them ship as well)!
If you’d like to purchase native grass seed, be sure to check out Native American Seed. They are my favorite online source for native Texas seeds. They also sell live roots of a variety of grasses and seeds for Buffalograss, a native turf grass.
If you’re looking for Inland Sea Oats seeds, I sell them in the Native Backyards Etsy shop!
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Welcome to Native Backyards! I’m Haeley from San Antonio, Texas, and I want to help you grow more native plants.
I have seen firsthand how the right plants can bring your yard to life with butterflies, bees, and birds. I’ve transformed my yard with Texas natives and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned with you.
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