1. South Bay Native Grasses and Other CA Native Lawn Substitutes for Western L.A. County
I
Scientific Name
Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
Light*
*
Soil
Water
Zone+
Availability
Notes
Perennial Groundcover Plants (low; can be used as low groundcover in place of lawn)
X Achillea millefolia
X
X
* Clinopodium
(Satureja) chandleri
Clinopodium (Satureja)
douglasii
** Erigeron glaucus
X ‘Bountiful’, ‘Sea Breeze’,
Yarrow
1-2 ft
White/
Spr-Su
Light mow
FS/PS
Welldrained
1-2
most
Alkali soils fine
San Miguel Savory
1-2 ft tall
2-3 ft wide
White/Spr
PS/
FSH
Welldrained
1-2 to 2-3
3, 14
Minty; attractive
foliage
Yerba buena
< 6 in
3-4 ft wide
White/Spr-Su
PS/
FSH
Welldrained
2-3 to 3
1, 3, 7, 13, 14
Neat; spreading
Seaside Daisy
<1 ft tall
2 ft wide
Lavernder/
Spr-Fa
FS/PS
/FSH
Welldrained
1-2 to 3
1, 3, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 13, 14
Attractive
flowers, foliage;
habitat
(Pacific) Coast
Strawberry
< 1 ft
spreading
White/Sp-Su
1, 3, 8, 13
Let dry between
waterings;
edible fruit
CA/Wood
Strawberry
< 2 ft
spreading
White/Su
PS/
FSH
1, 13, 20
Edible fruit
White/Spr
PS/PS
/ FSH
Pink/Spr
PS/PS
/ FSH
'Wayne Roderick'
* Fragaria chiloensis
X ssp. pacifica (and
cultivars)
X
X
* Fragaria vesca
(californica)
* Heuchera maxima
(many cultivars/hybrids)
X * Heuchera micrantha
Island Alumroot
Crevice Alumroot
1- 3 ft
1-3 ft
PS
Sandy
best
any
Any, incl.
clays
1-2 to
2-3
1-2 to 3
1-2 to
2-3
See note
1, 3, 7, 8, 13,
14
1, 3, 8
2-3 to 3
Well-drained
soil
Grasses and Grass-like Plants (rushes, sedges); includes both bunching (‘Ornamental Grass’) and sod-forming species
* Achnatherum
coronatum
Giant Ricegrass/
Giant Needlegrass
2-4 ft ;
flower
4-6 ft
* Achnatherum
speciosum
Desert Needlegrass
1-3 ft
Agrostis exarata
Spike Bentgrass
1-4 ft tall
X Agrostis pallens
Seashore
Bentgrass; Thin
Grass
1-2 ft tall
X
cool-season
perennial
bunchgrass
cool-season
perennial
bunchgrass
Cool-season
perennial
bunchgrass
cool-season
perennial
bunchgrass
Can be mowed
FS
Welldrained
FS
Sandy
best
FS/PS
FS/PS
10, 13
Short-lived
1 to 1-2
10, 13, 16
Long-lived; selfsows freely
Not alkali
1-2 to 3
10, 16
Not alkali
1-2 to 2-3
1 to 2
4, 10, 13, 16
'Camp Pendelton'
1

2. Scientific Name
Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
* Aristida adscensionis
Six-weeks threeawn
1-2 ft tall
Cool-season
Annual
* Aristida purpurea var.
parishii & purpurea
Purple Three-awn
1-2 ft tall &
wide
Warm-season
perennial
bunchgrass
Bothriochloa
(Andropogon)
barbinodis
Cane beardgrass
2-4 ft tall
1-3 ft wide
X * Bouteloua gracilis
Blue Gramma
1-2 ft tall
X Bromus arizonicus
Arizona Brome
1-2 ft tall &
wide
I
X
Warm-season
Perennial
bunchgrass
Warm-season
Perennial
bunch/sod
grass
Perennial
bunchgrass
Light mow
Light*
*
Soil
Water
Zone+
FS
Welldrained
1-2
FS/PS
Welldrained;
sandy
1-2 to 2
FS
Welldrained
FS/PS
FS/PS
Availability
Notes
10, 16
1, 7, 8, 10,
13, 14 (1, 7, 8
var. purpurea)
Seeds stick to
pets
1-2 to 2-3
7, 8, 11, 13,
20
Coarse-looking
Any
1-2 to 2-3
2, 3, 4, 7, 8,
10, 13, 16
Any
1-2
10
Reseeds; cover
grass;
FS/PS
Any
1-2
5, 10, 13, 14,
16
Cover; cultivars
‘Deborah’;
‘Luval’
‘Cucamonga’ is
annual
1, 3, 8, 13
Nice foliage
color
X Bromus carinatus
California Brome
2-3 ft tall &
wide
Perennial
bunchgrass
Light mow
X * Calamagrostis foliosa
Leafy (Mendocino)
Reed Grass
1-2 ft tall &
wide
cool-season
bunchgrass
FS/PS
Welldrained
2-3
Pacific Reed Grass
3-4 ft tall &
wide
cool-season
bunchgrass
FS/PS
Welldrained
2-3 to 3
1, 4, 5, 8, 13
Can plant
densely
1-2 ft tall
to 3 ft w
Evergreen sod
sedge
FS/PS
Any
2 to 3
3, 8, 13, 16
May be invasive
(containerize)
1-3 ft tall
Cool-season
sod sedge
PS/
FSH
Sandy
2 to 3
3, 4
Sand Dune Sedge
1 ft tall
shear 1-2
time/ yr
Cool-season
clump sedge
FS/PS
Very
sandy
2 to 2-3
X Carex praegracilis
Clustered Field
Sedge/CA Meadow
Sedge
1-2 ft tall
Cool-season,
sod sedge
FS/PS
Clays
best
2-3
1, 2, 4, 7, 13
X * Carex spissa
San Diego Sedge
2-4 ft tall
2-3 ft wide
Cool-season,
sod sedge
FS/PS
/FSH
Clays
best
1 to 3
1, 7, 8, 9, 10,
13
X
* Calamagrostis
nutkaensis
X * Carex barbarae
* Carex nudata
* Carex pansa (C.
X praegracilis sometimes
Santa Barbara
Sedge
California Blackflowering Sedge
mislabled as this)
3, 4, 6, 8
Can grow in
water
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
Substitute for
Pampas Grass
2

3. Scientific Name
Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
Light*
*
Soil
X Carex tumulicola
Berkeley Sedge
2 ft tall &
wide
Cool-season,
sod sedge
FS/PS
/FSH
any
Umbrella Sedge/
Tall Flat-sedge
2-4 ft tall
clumping
Warm-season,
sod sedge
FS.PS
any
California Oatgrass
2-3 ft tall
Cool-season
perennial
bunchgrass
Tufted hairgrass
1-2 ft tall &
wide
X Deschampsia elongata
Slender Hairgrass
2-4 ft tall
* Deschampsia
X holciformis (D. cespitosa
Pacific Hairgrass
1-3 ft tall
X Distichlis spicata
Saltgrass
Eleocharis
macrostachya
Eleocharis
montevidensis var.
montevidensis
I
Cyperus eragrostis
X * Danthonia Californica
Water
Zone+
Availability
Notes
1-2 to 3
1, 6, 7, 8, 9,
13
Good for sand
and shade
1-2 to 3
7, 10, 13
FS/PS
any
2 to 3
FS/PS
any
1-2 to 2-3
1, 4-8, 10, 13,
14, 16, 18
PS/
FSH
any
2-3 to 3
1 – dies
back
5, 10, 13, 16
Fine-texture;
very green
Cool-season
perennial
bunchgrass
FS
any
2-3 to 3
5, 8, 10, 13,
16
Salt-tolerant
1 ft tall
spreading
Warm-season,
sod grass
Can mow
FS
any
1 to 2-3
2, 3, 8, 10, 13,
14, 16
Can be mowed
Common
Spikerush
1-2 ft tall
spreading
Cool-season,
sod sedge
FS
Any
1-2 to 3
1, 2, 7, 10, 13,
16
Excellent for
damp areas
Sand Spikerush
1-2 ft tall
spreading
Cool-season,
sod sedge
FS/PS
Any
1-2 to 3
9
X Elymus glaucus
Blue (Western)
Wildrye
2-4 ft tall
1-2 ft wide
Cool-season
bunchgrass
PS/FS
H
Any; not
shallow
1-2 to 2-3
3, 4, 5, 10, 13,
14, 16
X Equisetum laevigatum
Smooth Horsetail
2-5 ft tall
spreading
Perennial
Clays
best
2-3 to 3
2, 8
X * Festuca californica
CA Fescue
<1-2 ft tall
1-3 ft wide
Cool-season
bunchgrass
FS/PS
any
1-2 to 2-3
1, 5, 7, 10, 13,
14, 16, 19
‘Phil’s Silver’, 'Horse
Mountain Green',
'Serpentine Blue'
X * Festuca idahoensis
Blue Bunchgrass
< 1 ft tall
& wide
Cool-season
bunchgrass
FS/PS
any
2 to 3
1, 5, 7, 10, 13,
16, 19, 20
‘Warren Peak’,
‘Siskiyou Blue’
X
* Deschampsia
cespitosa
ssp. hociformis)
X
Cool-season
perennial
bunchgrass
Cool-season
perennial
bunchgrass
FS
6, 8, 10
Evergreen;
tolerates
walking; good
for small areas
Salt-sensitive;
coarse-looking;
re-seeds well
3

4. Light*
Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
X * Festuca rubra
Red Fescue
1-2 ft tall
spreading
Cool-season
bunch/sod
grass; can
mow
FS/PS
Any
Hordeum
X brachyantherum ssp.
californicum
CA Meadow Barley
1-2 ft tall &
wide
Cool-season
bunch
FS
any
Hordeum depressum
Dwarf (Alkali)
Barley
1-2 ft tall
< 1 ft wide
Cool-season
annual
FS
Hordeum intercedens
Bobtail (Vernal)
Barley
1-2 ft tall
< 1 ft wide
Cool-season
annual
FS
X
Isolepis (Scirpus)
cernuus
Fiber Optic Grass;
Miniature Tule
1 ft tall
1-2 ft wide
Cool-season,
sod rush; cut
back in winter
PS/
FSH
X
Juncus acutus ssp.
leopoldii
Spiny Rush
2-5 ft tall &
wide
Cool-season,
sod rush
FS/PS
Any incl.
alk./salty
X Juncus balticus
Baltic Rush
1-3 ft tall
1-2 ft w.
Sod rush
FS
X * Juncus bolanderi
Bolander’s Rush
1-2 ft tall
Perennial
rhizome rush
Toad Rush
< 1 ft tall
& wide
X * Juncus effusus
Bog/Common Rush
X Juncus mexicanus
Notes
1-2 to 3
3, 5, 8, 10, 13,
16
Easy; Bluegreen; ‘Molate’
‘Patrick’s Point’,
‘Jughandle’
1-2 to 2-3
16 (other
vars./unk at 5,
10, 13)
Good for
erosion control
1-2 to 3
16
Good for
erosion control
1 to 1-2
16
Good for
erosion control
3, 4, 13
good for pond
edges
2-3
3, 10, 14, 16
Sharp tips;
good barrier
plant
Any incl.
alk./salty
2-3
3, 16
FS
Any incl.
salty
2-3 to 3
1, 13
Annual rush
FS
Any incl.
salty
1-2 to 3
10, 16
1-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
rhizome rush
FS/PS
Mexican Rush
< 1 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
rhizome rush
FS
Any incl.
salty
X Juncus patens
Common Rush
1-3 ft tall &
wide
FS
X Juncus textilis
Basket Rush
3-5 ft tall
3-8 ft wide
X Juncus xiphioides
Iris-leaf rush
1 ½ ft tall
spreading
X
Scientific Name
Juncus bufonius var
bufonius & congesta
Spreading/
bunching
perennial rush
Spreading/
bunching
perennial rush
Spreading rush
*
Soil
Water
Zone+
Availability
I
Any incl.
alkali,
salt
Any incl.
alkali,
salt
Sandy
best
Any;
sandy
best
2-3 to 3
1-2 to 3
1, 3, 4, 7, 8,
13, 14
1-2 to 2-3
2-3 to 3
1, 3, 8, 9, 12,
13, 19
FS/PS
Any
2-3 to 3
1, 14
FS/PS
Any
1-2 to 3
Good around
pools; ‘Quartz
Creek’
3, 10, 14, 16
Any
Showy
seedheads
2, 3, 8, 13, 16
‘Carmen’s Gray’
is blue-gray;
‘Elk’s Blue’
Showy; Good
for wet planter,
pondside
Best contained
if watered
4

5. Scientific Name
Common Name
Size
Flower/
season
X Koeleria macrantha
Prairie Junegrass
1-3 ft tall &
wide
Cool-season
bunchgrass
X Leymus condensatus
Giant Rye Grass
4-6 ft tall &
wide
X Leymus triticoides
Creeping Wild Rye
< 3 ft tall
spreading
X Melica imperfecta
Coastal Melic Grass
1-2 ft tall
1 ft wide
Cool season
bunchgrass
Little-seed Muhly
To 2 ft
Annual/shortlived perenn.;
cool season
Deergrass
2-4 ft tall &
wide
I
Muhlenbergia
microsperma
X * Muhlenbergia rigens
X Nassella cernua
X Nassella lepida
Nodding
Needlegrass
Foothill
Needlegrass
Warm- season
perennial sodgrass
Cool-season
perennial sodgrass; light
mow
Light*
*
Soil
FS/PS
Any;
sandy
best
FS/PS
Any
Water
Zone+
Availability
Notes
1-2 to
2-3
1, 5, 8, 10, 13,
16, 19
Showy
1-2
1, 3, 9, 10, 12,
16
‘Canyon Prince’
is low-growing
Great vernal
swale; cultivars
‘Yolo’, ‘Rio’,
‘Gray Dawn’
FS/PS
Any
1-2
1, 3, 5, 10, 14,
16
PS
Any
1-2
1, 3, 8, 10, 12,
13, 14, 19
FS/PS
Any
1-2
10, 16
Perennial
bunchgrass
FS
Any
1-2
3, 4, 5, 9, 10,
12, 13, 14, 16
2-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
bunchgrass
FS/PS
any
1 to 1-2
2-3 ft tall
& wide
2-3 ft tall
& wide
Perennial
bunchgrass
Perennial
bunchgrass
Cool-season
perennial
bunchgrass;
FS/PS
any
1 to 1-2
FS/PS
any
1 to 1-2
X * Nassella pulchra
Purple Needlegrass
X Poa secunda (scabrella)
One-sided
Bluegrass
1-2 ft tall
1 ft wide
X Sporobolus airoides
Alkali sacaton
2-3 ft tall
2-4 ft wide
Warm-season
bunchgrass
FS/PS
FS/PS
welldrained
best
welldrained
best
1 to 1-2
2 to 3
Tolerates
seasonal
flooding
5, 10, 13, 14,
16
3, 5, 10, 13,
14, 16
3, 5, 10, 13,
14, 16,
2, 10, 16
fine textured;
reseeds; light
mow
2, 3, 8, 13, 16
Salt-tolerant;
alkali fine
I : X = Gardening Information Sheet :http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants.html or at the Madrona Marsh Nature Center
* may not be immediately local, but is a CA native plant
++
+
** horticultural cultivar
light: FS=full sun; PS=part shade; FSH=full shade
Water Zones: 1 = no summer water; 1-2 = very occasional summer water (several times per summer); 2 = let soil dry out between waterings;
2-3 some regular summer water (about once a week); 3 = regular watering/moist soil (like a conventional lawn)
Availability: numbers correspond to the Plant and Seed Sources List at: http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/where-to-purchase-native-plants.html
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