Explore Plants
Native Plant Database
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Wasowski, Sally and Andy (Renner, TX)
Hilaria belangeri (Steud.) Nash
Curly mesquite grass, Curly mesquite
Poaceae (Grass Family)
USDA Symbol: hibe
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
There are very few drought-tolerant turf grasses with lawn potential native to North America. The best known ones are Buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides), Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and Curly Mesquite Grass. Curly Mesquite Grass likely falls between the other two in drought tolerance, less drought tolerant than Blue Grama, more drought tolerant than Buffalograss. It is not marketed as a lawn grass, as it has a rougher-looking texture than the other two, but it can be used to lay a solid turf in rural settings within its range. In the wild, it can sometimes be found growing with Buffalograss in well-drained clay loam, where it colonizes densely by stolons. Its name comes from the way the leaves curl up when it goes dormant and because it is often found in mesquite (Prosopis species) savannahs. Its natural range is from central Texas west to Arizona and south to Nuevo Leon.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Size Class: 0-1 ft.
Inflorescence: Spike
Fruit Type: Grain
Size Notes: Up to 6 inches tall
Bloom Information
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , OctBloom Notes: This grass occasionally blooms from March to November but normally doesnt start blooming until summer. The flowers (florets) of grasses are usually minute and therefore not visible to the naked eye.
Distribution
USA: AZ , NM , TXNative Distribution: Central Texas west to Arizona, south to Nuevo Leon
Native Habitat: Dryish shortgrass prairies and savannahs
USDA Native Status: L48(N)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Well-drained sand, loam, clay, or caliche. Prefers clay loam.
Conditions Comments: More drought-tolerant than Buffalograss, but does go dormant in extreme droughts and in winter.
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Question: Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I am having trouble with my lawn, specifically with the crabgrass in it. It now covers over 1/3 of it. I started using corn gluten meal this year, with limited tangible success. Corn gluten meal is a pre-emergent and sometimes hit-or-miss on when to apply it.
Is there an environmentally responsible POST-emergent weed control product that I can apply to hit the crabgrass on multiple fronts? In the near future, I hope to transition/replace my exotic grass with native alternatives. Thank you.
click here to view the full question and answer
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Tohono Chul Park, Inc. - Tucson, AZ
Patsy Glenn Refuge - Wimberley, TX
Bibliography
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Recommended Species Lists
Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
View Recommended Species pageAdditional resources
USDA: Find Hilaria belangeri in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Hilaria belangeri in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Hilaria belangeri
Metadata
Record Modified: 2009-03-21Research By: GDG
