Mariposa Gardening and Design Blog
Why we use native grasses
Ornamental grasses have been steadily gaining in popularity over the last several years. Why? Because grasses add beauty, structure, texture, and movement to our gardens. They contrast well with the flowering perennials, trees, shrubs, and ground-covers that comprise the ecosystems we create, and remain striking and attractive throughout the year even when dormant.
Besides being fantastic elements of a design, grasses, particularly those native to California, offer many ecological benefits. At Mariposa Gardening and Design, we intentionally use these indigenous bunch grasses to enhance the ecology of all the gardens we design and install.
One of our favorite benefits of growing these great plants is the habitat they create. Native grasses invite all kinds of beneficial insects into gardens, to pollinate other plants or to provide pest control. In addition, California bunch-grasses provide critical butterfly habitat, and many native lizards also find their homes exclusively among the stalks.
Another function native grasses serve is to protect slopes and prevent erosion. Unlike many non-native species, the grasses that have evolved to be in California are perennials, with roots that remain alive year after year. These living roots hold the soil in place even when the plant is dormant, and they send up shoots much earlier in the rainy season than annuals, holding steep slopes in check.
Additionally, bunch grasses native to the Bay Area are perfectly adapted to the specific amount of sun, rain, and temperature range in our area. Our Mediterranean climate can be tough on non-natives, but grasses adapted for our climate can tolerate our sunny summers with no rain, as well as the cool, soggy winters. Being able to thrive in such different conditions reduces the resources required to keep them healthy and looking good!