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

Sunday - June 14, 2009

From: Grand Haven, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Turf
Title: Native grasses for lawn in Michigan
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I want to plant a lawn of grasses that are native to Michigan specifically. My soil is a little sandy in some spots and is moderately moist. I have been researching on the internet and I *think* that I am looking for a short, cool season grass. I would like to plant a few different grasses, clover, etc. to maintain a decent biodiversity. I am from Indiana and grew up surrounded by bentgrass which I've read is not native. I really love the softness of it though. I've been told june grass is nice. I plan to mow so height isn't an issue.

ANSWER:

There are three common bentgrasses used for lawns.  All three of these are introduced non-natives, but all are grown in Michigan:  Agrostis stolonifera (creeping bentgrass) is the grass commonly seen on golf courses; Agrostis capillaris (colonial bentgrass) and Agrostis canina (velvet bentgrass) are other commonly used bent grasses for lawns and golf courses.  You can see the distributional range of A. stolonifera, A. capillaris, and A. canina on the USDA Agricultural Research Service Germlasm Information Network (ARS-GRIN) pages.

There are actually three native species of grass with the common name of 'bentgrass' that grow in Michigan.  They are: 

Agrostis hyemalis (winter bentgrass) and here are photos from Oklahoma University.

Agrostis perennans (upland bentgrass) and photos from Illinois Wildflowers

Agrostis scabra (rough bentgrass) and photos from University of California Photos (CalPhotos).

Agrostis gigantea (redtop) is another Agrostis species native to Michigan, although it doesn't have 'bentgrass' in its common name.  Here are photos from Illinois Wildflowers.

You can visit our Recommended Species page and choose Michigan from the map or pull-down menu to find a list of over 150 commercially available plants native to the state that are recommended for landscaping.  you can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option and choose 'Grass/Grass-like' under General Appearance to limit the result to 14 grasses and grass-like plants.  One of those grasses is Koeleria macrantha (prairie Junegrass).

Others on that list that would be a good grass for your lawn are Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), Bromus kalmii (arctic brome), Pascopyrum smithii (western wheatgrass), Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye) and Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass).

You can see photos of many of these, plus other native prairie grasses, on the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve page of prairie grasses.


Koeleria macrantha

Schizachyrium scoparium

Bromus kalmii

Pascopyrum smithii

Elymus canadensis

Sorghastrum nutans

 


 

 

More Turf Questions

Pine bark on non-native St. Augustine grass in Kingwood TX
May 12, 2010 - I had two large Pine trees cut down. In the process of cutting the trees down there is a lot of pine bark from the tree on my St Augustine grass. Will this affect the growth of my grass?
view the full question and answer

Source for nitrates and phosphorus (P205) for lawn care
July 04, 2008 - I recently supplied soil samples from my back yard to my local extension here in Austin. I have a hybrid Bermuda turf grass (TIF 419) that has had its share of ups and downs, and wanted to assess the ...
view the full question and answer

Native grasses for central Georgia
August 06, 2011 - We've just bought a 1990 circa house in Dallas, Georgia. It sits on a .62 acre lot. One half of the lot is woods, the rest is lawn. The lawn is covered mostly with weeds and wild strawberries. ...
view the full question and answer

Removal of Bermuda grass in lawn
November 22, 2006 - Help! I am looking for a way to get rid of coastal bermuda grass in my yard, short of all out toxic chemical warfare. Is there any thing that can be used other than herbicides. Thanks.
view the full question and answer

Low-growing lawn substitute for Pennsylvania
March 19, 2008 - Hello Mr. Smarty Plants Please help. We are moving to an old farm house in Western Pennsylvania with several acres of lawn. Our plan is to return much of the land to wildlife friendly meadows and woo...
view the full question and answer

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