Danthonia sp., Oat grass

Patrick McMillan, curator of the Clemson University Herbarium, spoke to us about underutilized native grasses and sedges for landscaping and wildlife in South Carolina. While grasses perform important ecological functions, in the home landscape they also function as the backdrop for flowers and serve as host plants for a number of butterflies. Listed below are some of the grasses Patrick highlighted for use in the home landscape.

• Andropogon gerardii, Big bluestem - tall, bunch-like grass, blue color at nodes on stems, purplish flower heads in late summer.
• Androporon gyrans, Elliott bluestem - used in dried flower arrangements, 2.5 to 3' tall, rosy pink in fall and winter, blooms in October.
• Chasmanthium latifolium, River oats - excellent centerpiece, 2-8' tall, tolerant of a variety of soils, spreads via runners.
• Ctenium aromaticum, Toothace grass - coastal plain species, likes feet wet, used by Native Americans for its numbing properties.
• Melica mutica, Two-flowered melic grass - likes shade, flowers in spring 1.5 foot tall ground cover
• Muhlenbregia capillaris, Pink muhly - grey-green foliage, tightly clumping, blooms pink in fall.
• Oplisemenus setarius - crinkly leaf, grows flat on ground, likes moderately moist soil, native to low country and piedmont.
• Panicum virgatum, Switchgrass var. "Alamo" - very tolerant of moisture extremes, great for erosion control
• Spartina bakerii, Baker's cordgrass - hardy in upcountry, native to low country, good accent, flowers in midwinter, moist to medium dry soil.
• Sorghastrum nutans, Indiangrass - SC state grass, tends to run, good for erosion control or stabilization.

The following grasses and sedges are excellent alternatives to invasive liriope. Sedges need good garden soil, so amend with lots of organic matter and a little sand as if preparing a bed for trillium or lillies. Woodland sedges tend to stay put, while wetland sedges have runners and tend to spread.

• Cares plantaginea, Plantain-leaf sedge - common in cove forests, 1.5" wide leaves, forms tight clumps, for mountain locales only.
• Carex radfordii, Radford sedge - common to mountains of Pickens, blue-green, evergreen, reaches almost waist high.
• Eriophorum virginicum, Cottongrass - not related to commercial cotton, produces a cotton-like tuft, good for bog gardens.
• Rhynchospora latifolia (Dichromena latifolia), White-topped sedge - pretty white flowers in May - September, coastal plain species.

The following grasses are possible substitutes for non-native lawn grasses, such as fescue, Buffalo grass, and Nut sedge.

• Piptochaetium avenacea, Needlegrass - cool season grass, resprouts in highway-side applications, attractive flowers.
• Danthonia sp., Oat grass - seed collected in June to early July.

One of the best sources for native grass seed is the SCNPS; our field trips to collect native grass seed for the Forest Service are great opportunities to learn more about our native grasses, as well as bring home a little seed for your own yard.