Native Plant Database

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Achene , Caryopsis
Size Notes: 4-6 inches tall.
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , TX
Native Distribution: W. TX to AZ & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry hillsides, swales, rocky slopes, plains, mesas
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils. Limestone-based, caliche type, sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay
Conditions Comments: Curlymesquite, one of the more palatable grass species, can be important for forage use in the desert Southwest. Responds well to disturbance, can be used as a grass mix in urban lawns. Requires no water and very little care.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Turf, Ground cover, Can be mowed
Use Wildlife: This is an important wildlife forage grass. Seeds for granivorous birds, provides nesting material.
Attracts: Birds
Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Division
Description: Propagate by seed or divide roots while the grass is dormant.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Will drought-stricken non-native St. Augustine come back in Cedar Park TX
January 30, 2010
I recently bought a new house but the grass in the yard looked completely dead (bought house in Nov) even though the neighbor's grass was still green. The previous owner stopped watering the grass (e...
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX

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 page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Hilaria belangeri var. belangeri in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Hilaria belangeri var. belangeri in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Hilaria belangeri var. belangeri