July 2023 Plant Availability |
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Greetings,
We hope you had a lovely summer solstice and have been able to kick off summer with some leisure! Around the nursery, July tends to feel like the calm between storms. It’s a marvelous (albeit brief) time to refocus on nourishing ourselves (and the plants of course) and set intentions for the season to come before we ramp up production in preparation for fall. We’re grateful for the sunshine after all the ‘June gloom’ we’ve had, and happy that our retail shelves are stocked full of luscious plants! Many of our native grasses are flowering right now, and more and more of our customers are taking steps towards converting their turf grass lawns to native lawn substitutes and landscapes (yay!), so we figure it’s the perfect time to highlight our plethora of native grass species.
Most of the grasses native to California are perennial bunch grasses that grow extensive, fibrous root systems which allow them to adapt to our dry summers. They are also very good at controlling soil erosion on slopes and sequestering carbon deep into the soil. Additionally, our bunch grasses provide important habitat for wildlife, including cover and food for birds, small mammals, and butterfly larvae. They can be beautiful additions to the garden as focal points, especially when paired with native annual and perennial flowering plants, or as a more ecologically beneficial alternative to turf lawns.
The main thing to consider when selecting native bunch grasses is whether they are warm or cool season grasses.
Warm season grasses do most of their vegetative growth during the summer, flower in mid to late summer, and go mostly dormant through winter. These grasses naturally occur in hotter places of California and do best with some summer heat. They don’t delay dormancy regardless of how much water they get or where they are grown like some cool season grasses can.
Cool season grasses are green and lush with new growth throughout our rainy, cool fall and winter months. They flower in spring to early summer, then set seed and go partially to fully dormant in mid to late summer. Some cool season grasses can stay green longer into the summer with some supplemental water.
With the ongoing drought and changing climate, it is imperative to have fire awareness and utilize strategies for reducing fire risk. One such strategy is reducing or eliminating dry vegetation during peak fire season in summer and fall, which is common among our summer-dormant cool season grasses. Luckily, most of these species can be cut down within a few inches while dormant. Raking can also be an effective method of removing dead plant material and renewing growth of native bunch grasses to make them more fire safe. These strategies mimic the effects of fire and grazing that occurs in our natural grasslands, leading to healthier plants as a result!
We know that determining which native grasses are appropriate for your goals and your garden with all of these considerations can be overwhelming, so below we’ve highlighted the species that we have to offer with information about what to use them for in the garden and how they grow best. Additionally, we’ve listed some helpful resources at the bottom of this newsletter if you’re delving into lawn replacement or adding native grasses to your landscape for the first time!
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Available in Stubs for $2.10 and D16’s for $6.60 each!
- This short perennial grass grows only 1 ft. tall; space 15-18” apart
- Popular choice for a garden accent grass for its interesting blue-green seed heads
- Wonderful addition to wildflower meadows
- Prefers well-drained soils but tolerates clay
- Great soil stabilizer (roots grow 3 – 6.5 ft. deep!)
- Full sun with dry, light or moderate water
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Available in stubs at 25% off for $1.58 each!
- Tall, robust bunchgrass that grows to 3 ft. or more
- It’s 6+ in. inflorescences arch with splendor
- This species is endemic to California, naturally occurring on a limited range of coastal habitats from Drakes Bay down to Santa Cruz, which makes it quite uncommon and prized in garden settings
- In the garden, this species prefers partial to full shade and dry, light, or moderate water
- Tolerant of clay, loam, and sandy soils
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Available in D16’s for $6.60 and D40’s for $7.70 each!
- Large, robust evergreen bunchgrass
- Grows 3 ft. tall x 3 ft. wide; space 4 ft. apart
- Young shoots are browsed by a variety of animals, but luckily Deergrass grows fast– reaching maturity in a season or two
- Has an extensive root system that makes it very helpful for erosion control and acts as a biofilter that’s effective for herbicide, pesticide, and particulate removal/breakdown
- Commonly used for making baskets by local indigenous folks
- Useful for accents, mixed borders, and provides interesting grassland texture in garden landscapes
- Prefers full sun to partial shade with dry, light, or moderate water and clay, loam, or sandy soils
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Available in stubs for $2.10 each!
- Nearly evergreen clumping perennial bunchgrass
- 2 – 3 ft. tall, space 1 ft. apart
- A great basic grass for lowland meadows or rock gardens
- Can withstand being trampled on, so it’s also great for native lawns or planted between pavers
- Full sun to partial shade with dry, light, or moderate water
- Tolerant of clay, loam, or sandy soils
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Available in stubs for $2.10 each!
- Attractive, small, clumping perennial grass
- Grows 1 – 3 ft. tall; space 2 ft. apart
- Goes dormant by late summer in hot and humid areas, but remains attractive until fall in cool summer climates
- Eye-catching chartreuse flower spikes atop blue-green leaves flower in June and July, providing food for the Columbia and Tawny-Edged Skipper butterflies
- Ideal choice for drifts and masses
- Provides effective slope or ground cover in hot, dry summer climates
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Available in stubs for $2.10, D16’s for $6.60, and D16’s 50% off for $3.00 each!
- Semi-evergreen, spreading perennial
- Grows 1.5 – 4 ft. tall
- Its rhizomatous growth habit makes it a superstar at out-competing some invasive weeds
- Great for erosion control near river banks, this is one of our more common riparian understory grasses
- Stays green later into the summer than other cool season grasses
- Tolerant of trampling and mowing
- Provides quality nesting habitat for waterfowl and upland bird species
- Prefers full sun to part shade with light, moderate, or high water availability
- Tolerant of clay, loam, and sandy soils
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Available in stubs 50% off for $0.88 – $1.05, SC 50% off for $1.38, D16’s 25% off for $4.95, and D40’s for $7.70 each!
- Small tufting perennial grass with blue-gray foliage
- Grows 3 – 5 ft. tall, space 1 – 3 ft. apart
- Typically found in meadows, fields, ditch banks, road cuts, etc.
- Its thick, fibrous root systems make it a good option on slopes for erosion control and revegetation
- A popular choice for an accent grass in garden settings as well as restoration projects
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Available in stubs for $2.10 each!
- Mid-sized evergreen perennial bunchgrass
- Grows 2 – 4 ft. tall and 2 – 3 ft. wide; space 2 ft. apart
- Its graceful, fountain-like, blue-green foliage grows 2 ft. tall with showy flower stalks that rise another 2 ft. above the foliage
- Easy to grow plant
- Wonderful choice for a groundcover for slopes among oaks, California Bays, or Pines
- Cut back annually and groom with a stiff rake to freshen its appearance
- Can grow in full sun, part shade, or full shade with dry, light, or moderate water
- Tolerant of clay, loam, rocky, or sandy soils
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Available in stubs for $2.10 each!
- Rhizomatous to clumping perennial grass
- Grows fast to 1 ft. tall with flower spikes up to 2 ft. tall; space 12 – 14 in. apart
- This local Molate ecotype of Red Fescue is more drought tolerant than other varieties
- Makes a lovely naturalistic “lumpy lawn” or soft ground cover
- Can be mowed down to 2 inches in the summer if desired or simply raked occasionally for a “no-mow” lawn alternative
- Great for meadow gardens or in dry shade under oaks
- Disease free!
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Available in stubs for $2.10 each!
- Luscious evergreen bunchgrass
- Keeps a compact form of about 1 foot tall; space 1 – 3 ft. apart
- Its finely textured blue to gray-green foliage creates marvelous color contrast in dry gardens
- Works well massed on hillsides and parking strips
- Plant in a well-drained site in full sun or partial shade with dry, light, or moderate water
- Cut back or mow high in early Spring
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Available in stubs for $2.10 each!
- Loosely tufted perennial grass
- Grows 2 – 4 ft. tall; space 2 ft. apart
- Native to dry, exposed, rocky slopes and found in our local open hillsides and oak woodlands
- Its deep roots and extreme drought tolerance make this species an excellent choice for slope stabilization
- Makes a lovely complement to cut flowers as its attractive culms persist
- Frost tolerant and flowers March – June
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Available in stubs for $2.10 each!
- Summer semi-deciduous in the wild, but may be kept green with summer water
- Floppy looking, drought tolerant bunchgrass
- Grows 2 ft. tall and 1 ft. wide
- Can add balance and finish to native gardens, particularly if grouped to create fine textured clumps
- Especially useful in rock or shade gardens with companion plants like Sticky Monkey flower, California Honeysuckle, and currants or gooseberries
- One of the most common grasses in shady settings around the Bay Area
- Naturally found in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and oak woodland habitats
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Available in stubs for $2.10 and D16’s 50% off for $3.30 each!
- Long-lived perennial bunchgrass
- Grows 1 – 3 ft. tall; space 2 – 3 ft. apart
- Named for its purple-tinged pointed fruit, the shape of which helps its seeds to self-bury
- Became the California State Grass in 2004 as it is our most widespread native grass, helps suppress invasive species, supports native oaks, and is one of the key components of California’s native grasslands
- Its roots extend down 20 ft. to tap soil moisture and provide erosion control
- In garden settings, it is an excellent choice for dry meadows, accents in mixed borders, rock gardens or in containers!
- It likes to grow in full sun only, and goes dormant in the summer but can stay green longer with a little summer water
- Tolerant of clay and serpentine soils
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Available in stubs for $2.10, stubs 50% off for $1.05, and SC’s 75% off for $0.63 each!
- Fine-bladed, tufted perennial bunchgrass
- Grows 1 – 3 ft. tall; space 1 – 2 ft. apart
- Commonly found along chaparral margins in the coast ranges and Sierra foothills
- Its graceful flowers stalks have needle like awns that shimmer in afternoon light
- Excellent choice for dry meadows, accents in mixed borders, rock gardens, or in containers!
- Tolerant of partial shade and will stay green longer with a little summer water
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Available in stubs for $2.10 and SC’s 75% off for $0.63 each!
- Fast growing and moderately long-lived perennial bunchgrass
- Grows 2 – 3 ft. tall; space 1 – 2 ft. apart
- Its showy, silky awns dry from purplish to silver and glimmer when backlit
- Best used in the garden in small patches between chaparral or sage scrub species with a mixed variety of perennials
- This species is very drought tolerant and prefers a medium draining soil in full sun to part shade
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Stay Safe, ‘Bee’ Well, and Go Natives!
Happy Planting! From all of us at The Watershed Nursery.
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- Landscape and gardening professionals receive a 10% discount on all plants (except for sale plants) purchased for professional use.
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Resellers: All the plants are available for wholesale purchase. Provide us your resellers license to receive a 20% discount on the listed price (except for sale plants) and no sales tax.
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The Watershed Nursery | 510.234.2222 | sales@thewatershednursery.com |
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