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native meadow grasses for california (lawn substitute)

everythinggardens

18 years ago

i am looking to transition a lawn to a native meadow in pasadena (southern california). i was recommended to use california meadow grass, which upon research seems that they meant the meadow sedge? they also noted that it was a very expensive replacement, i'm not sure if they went from seed, but i imagine that is the only option.

does anyone have experience in southern ca with meadow sedge or are there other grasses that you recommend. we would love for it to grow tall to about 3" (we wouldn't mow) and we don't mind the summer dormancy.

thanks!

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Comment (1)

terrestrial_man
18 years ago
Don't know where you are getting your info but I do not know of any California native grass species that grows THREE INCHES OR LESS TALL! At least any that I have seen commercially available. Most California grasses are bunch grasses and these are the species that occur in meadows in the state. The meadows are an assortment of mixed annuals, biennials, and perennials with varying degrees of preponderance of two to three bunch grass species thrown into the view.

Carex pansa-California Meadow Sedge
Click here to read short info bit

This sedge species according to Munz, A California Flora, can grow from 6 inches to 12 inches tall. It is found naturally along the coast in what Munz describes as Coastal Strand communities. What this means is that the species is found in areas that are cool and subject to coastal fog year round and may never experience any freezing weather though may reach the upper 30sF. This plant IS NOT A MEADOW PLANT. California meadows are summer dryland plants and can be exposed to broad ranges in temps each day from lows in the 50sF during summer with highs commonly in the 80sF to 90sF. Sedges are not really lawn type plants as they tend to spread rather than form a tight bedding of stems, though they can be forced to mat out by restricting the area in which they can spread. My personal experience with Carex species is that they spread out and in so doing the older stems die out as the rhizomes spread out.

This link California grasslands passed off as meadows by the CNPS

has an image of the Carex species and recommendations on planting etc. This site defines meadows that I define are grasslands, more akin to prairies,and not meadows which is a more open stand of plants with a preponderance of grass species. But that is just my bent on the definition.

Here is a link that might be useful: Larner Seeds
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