Did you know….?   

Did you know….?                 

Grasslands once covered 20% of California, but now only 1-2% of that land remains in native grasses. What used to be here was about 300 species of unique grasses, most of which were perennial bunch grasses. The native bunch grasses are typically drought tolerant with deep, fibrous root systems, sometimes more than 10 feet into the soil, providing good erosion control. They have a special soil structure and microorganism community that helps them grow and support oak trees. They are fire resilient, coming back after a fire, and naturally grow with a little distance from each other which allows water to soak in and wildflowers to grow between them. They support many insects that are crucial to California’s ecosystems.

Many of  the grasses we see in the California landscape now are annual, which pose a fire risk because their foliage dries out when warm weather begins and they burn fast.  Perennial bunch grasses, by contrast, are mainly evergreen and their flowering stems are lower to the ground. It is very difficult to restore grasslands in our state because it requires keeping the weeds out, but there is hope, if we  start using native grasses in our landscapes we can benefit our ecosystem and reestablish the soil’s microbial community. The natural beauty, textures and colors of native grasses as well as their drought tolerance can provide what we really need in our landscapes, water saving measures, and food for wildlife.