Grasses are a relatively new design element for me, but I have taken to them quite readily. Grasses are great for along active areas where ‘something small’ is needed. Many of California’s shrubs are much to large for the area adjacent to pathways, causing some homeowners to place eight food wide Allen Chickering Sage four feet from a pathway, only to discover that pruning is needed to keep it out of the walkway.

Grasses solve this design problem quite readily since they’re quite small (comparatively). Place Blue Grama grass in parkways, along pathways, in clusters and drifts in full sun. Blue Grama grass goes winter dormant so I often pair it with Purple Three Awn so one grass is ‘awake’ while another one is ‘asleep’. Seed heads are quite distinctive. Cut back hard to ground in fall if plant looks raggedy; will regrow in the warm season. Plant with wildflowers and enjoy this grass as a native meadow. Tolerates being mangled by car doors, mild foot traffic and dogs.

Calscape