Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Tuesday - October 20, 2009

From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Turf
Title: Supplier for native lawn grass for South Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Where would I buy native lawn grass for South Texas? Would it be sod or seed?

ANSWER:

One of our supplier associates, Native American Seed in Junction, Texas, has a Native Sun Turfgrass seed mix containing Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss) and Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama).  Both grasses should do well in South Texas as long as they have plenty of sun.  These are the only native turf grasses available, but Native American Seed does have many other native grasses and grass mixes that would be hardy and attractive in a meadow setting.  If you were hoping to have a turf style lawn, however, your native grass species would be buffalograss and blue grama. Although Native American Seed has various grasses as root stock, their supply for buffalograss and blue grama comes only as seeds.  You can search in our National Suppliers Directory for nurseries and seed companies that specialize in native plants in your area that might have sod of these two species available.

Since you are contemplating a native grass lawn, I suggest that you read two of our "How to Articles":  Native Lawns and Native Lawns: Buffalograss.   Native American Seed also has a very helpful article, Planting Tips for Native Grasses


Bouteloua dactyloides

Bouteloua dactyloides

Bouteloua gracilis

Bouteloua gracilis

 

 

More Turf Questions

Best grass for the shade in Austin, TX.
July 01, 2015 - What is the best grass seed for shade in Austin?
view the full question and answer

Watering schedule for sod lawn
November 23, 2008 - We just moved to Georgetown, TX, where we have a 2-month old sod lawn (NOT Zoysia) that appears to becoming fairly well-established. We want to conserve water for environmental and financial reasons....
view the full question and answer

Grassy "weed" invasion in Bermuda grass lawn
July 09, 2007 - Our grass is being totally overrun by this weed.(I don't know what the name is but I do know it's not the dandelion weed or the thin grassy weed). It is Bermuda grass and I really don't know how to...
view the full question and answer

Survival of native lawn in Hockley TX
August 02, 2011 - I'm on the edge of the Katy Prairie and a very large ranch with full blasting sun and completely open exposure. The soil is fill from the developers with more clay than sand, a minimum of nutrients,...
view the full question and answer

Low water lawn for Austin
September 01, 2009 - I am interested in finding out more about low water lawns and was wondering if you have resources you might suggest. We have replanted with varying types of grass several times and my front lawn cont...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.