Mount Vernon was the first home in North America to incorporate landscape into it's original design plan (according to The Lady Bird Wildflower Center).  Since then, we have taken great time and energy to produce a landscape we are proud of.  In Central Texas, something as simple as grass can require more work than in other, moisture rich parts of the country.  Native Grasses are important for that reason; they grow best here.

The dry, rocky soils of Central Texas are home to a wide variety of native grasses and plants that thrive in the alkaline soil and summer heat. Many of these native plants are popular with homeowners in the area because of the plants' ability to thrive with little care or water.

Some examples of grasses that do well here are:

BUFFALO GRASS (Buchloe dactyloides): a native turfgrass that is the perfect selection for those who don't like to water, fertilize, or mow. It spreads by above-ground runners, has a thin leaf blade, and grows to 6", sending up a thin, male flower about 2 inches above the leaves.

BIG MUHLY (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri): a native Central Texas grass that is often used as an ornamental in home landscape. Growing 3 to 5 feet tall, big muhly likes a sunny location. It has delicate blue-green spikes that produce feathery blossoms in the fall.

MONKEY GRASS or MONDO GRASS (Ophiopogon japonicus): a non-native, adapted grass that does well in shady areas.  It is an evergreen variety and is also available in a dwarf form.  It grows to about 4”-8” in height and spreads nicely as well.

Austin is also home to a great resource for native plants. Besides our city source for native plants, we also have The Lady Bird Wildflower Center. It is not only a great way to see these native plants in their habitat, it also has a native plant database on their website.

Austin is good at 'Going Local', so think about your lawn in that way as well.