[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Chris Trask]

>
> >
> > Native grass species to consider include  Blue Grama (Bouteloua
> > gracilis), Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), and Buffalograss
> > (Buchloe dactyloides).  These grasses stay fairly low but their
> > infloresences (flower stalks) can reach up to 3'.  Good Luck.
> >
>

>
> > I simply can't believe you recommended buffalo grass, when it is
> > absolutely destroying the dessert.
>


>
> You're thinking of Buffelgrass
>

    Right.  Bufflegrass is Pennisetum ciliare.  Buffalograss (Buchloe
dactyloides) and Curly Mesquite (Hilaria belangeri) are good turf grasses
for the lower elevations.  Other native species worth considering are Purple
Threeawn (Aristida purpurea var. purpurea), Sand Dropseed (Sporobolus
cryptandrus), and Hairy Grama (Bouteloua hirsuta), all of which look good in
a garden foreground situation.  Deep rooted grasses such as Arizona
Cottontop (Digitaria californica), Big Galetta (Hilaria rigida), Big Sacaton
(Sporobolus wrightii), and Alkali Sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) are
well-suited for erosion control.

Chris Trask
Outings Leader, Sierra Club (1981-1991)
Palo Verde Group Outings Chair, Sierra Club (1985-1988)
Grand Canyon Chapter Outings Chair, Sierra Club (1988-1991)
Member, Arizona Native Plant Society
Member, Arizona Governor's Advisory Council on Invasive Species
Member, Arizona Riparian Council
Member, Central Arizona Weed Management Area

     We cannot command nature except by obeying her.

                                 - Sir Francis Bacon