Plant Lists
Drought Tolerant Grasses The grasses contained in this list should not require supplemental water once the plant is established two to three years after planting. This does not apply during periods of prolonged drought. No.
Common Name
Scientific Name
Notes
1.
Bluebunch Wheatgrass*
Pseudoroegneria spicata
Montana state grass, upright.
2.
Little Bluestem*
Schizachyrim scoparium
Warm Season grass, so greens up a bit later in spring, red fall color.
3.
Prairie Dropseed*
Sporobolus heterolepsis
Warm Season, low growing.
4.
Idaho Fescue*
Festuca idahoensis
Low growing, grass that is common in native grass areas in valleys.
5.
Blue Grama
Boutelous
‘Blonde Ambition’ is a taller cultivar.
6.
Side Oats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Interesting seed head.
7.
Prairie Junegrass
Koeleria macrantha
Small grass, early to green up.
8.
Indian Ricegrass
Oryzopsis hymenoides
Needs a very dry and well-drained soil. *indicates plants native to Montana.
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3
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Water Smart Grasses Water smart plants can withstand long periods without supplemental water but will need deep watering during prolonged hot and dry conditions. No.
Common Name
Scientific Name
Notes
1.
Feather Reedgrass
Calamagrostis x acutiflora
Karl Foerster, El Durado, Avalanche all good upright bunch grasses.
2.
Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca
Blue foliage, short stature, can be short lived.
3.
Tufted Hairgrass*
Deschampsia cespitosa
Lacey seed heads.
4.
Switchgrass*
Panicum virgatum
Tall upright Northwind is less prone to toppling.
5.
Moor Grass Moorflame
Molina caerulea
Upright growing grass but more open than ‘Karl Foerster’.
6.
Moor Grass Skyracer
Molina cerulean sp arundinacea
Very tall grass, strong feature.
7.
Korean Feather Reedgrass
Calamogrostis brachytricha
Lovely plumed seed heads in fall.
8.
Blue Oat Grass
Helictotrichon sempervirens
Blue foliage color, large bunchgrass, needs space. *indicates plants native to Montana.
12 | Water Smart Planting Guide for the Bozeman Area | www.bozemanwater.com
WC17-017 PlantIrrigationBrochure R6.indd 12
3/24/17 12:32 PM