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Anderson, Wynn
Hilaria belangeri
Hilaria belangeri (Steud.) Nash
Curly Mesquite Grass, Curly Mesquite
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: HIBE
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
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 much as the other two, as it has a rougher-looking texture, 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.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Leaf Pubescence: Pilose
Inflorescence: Spike
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to 1 foot tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , OctBloom Notes: This grass occasionally blooms from March to November but normally doesn't start blooming until summer. The flowers (florets) of grasses are usually minute and therefore inconspicuous.
Distribution
USA: AZ , NM , TXNative Distribution: Central Texas west to Arizona, south to Nuevo Leon
Native Habitat: Dryish shortgrass prairies and savannas, caliche soils and hardpan clay sites.
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.
Find Seed or Plants
Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
Mr. Smarty Plants says
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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, c/o Wimberley Birding Society - Wimberley, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Additional 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: 2022-09-28Research By: GDG