Lamilla: A Rare Native Grass Worth Knowing About
Meet lamilla (Bouteloua juncea), a fascinating native grass that calls Puerto Rico home. While you might not find this perennial beauty at your local nursery, it’s worth getting to know this unique member of the grama grass family that has quietly thrived in Caribbean ecosystems for centuries.
Where Does Lamilla Come From?
Lamilla is exclusively native to Puerto Rico, making it a true island endemic. This special status means you won’t find it growing naturally anywhere else in the world – it’s Puerto Rico’s own botanical treasure. The grass has evolved specifically to thrive in the island’s unique climate and growing conditions.
What Makes Lamilla Special?
As a member of the Bouteloua genus, lamilla belongs to a group of grasses known for their resilience and adaptability. These grama grasses are typically known for being tough, drought-tolerant perennials that can handle challenging growing conditions. While specific details about lamilla’s appearance and growth habits are limited in botanical literature, its relatives in the genus are often valued for their fine texture and ability to form dense, low-growing patches.
Should You Grow Lamilla in Your Garden?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. Lamilla appears to be quite rare, with very limited information available about its cultivation, growing requirements, or availability in the horticultural trade. If you’re gardening in Puerto Rico and are passionate about growing native plants, lamilla could be an interesting addition – but only if you can source it responsibly.
Here are some considerations:
- Its rarity means you should never collect it from wild populations
- Limited availability makes it challenging to find for purchase
- As a native species, it would theoretically be well-adapted to Puerto Rican growing conditions
- It could provide authentic local character to native plant gardens
Growing Conditions and Care
While specific growing requirements for lamilla aren’t well-documented, we can make some educated guesses based on its relatives and native habitat. Like other Bouteloua species, it likely prefers:
- Well-draining soils
- Full sun to partial sun exposure
- Moderate to low water requirements once established
- Warm-season growing conditions
As a perennial grass native to Puerto Rico, it’s presumably adapted to the island’s tropical climate and would be suitable for USDA zones 10-11.
The Bottom Line
Lamilla represents the kind of hidden botanical gem that makes native plant gardening so fascinating. While its rarity and limited availability make it challenging to grow, it serves as a reminder of the unique plant diversity that exists in island ecosystems like Puerto Rico.
If you’re interested in native Puerto Rican grasses and can’t find lamilla, consider exploring other native grass species that might be more readily available. Always work with reputable native plant sources and avoid collecting from wild populations to help preserve these special plants for future generations.
Sometimes the most intriguing plants are the ones that remain a bit mysterious – and lamilla certainly fits that description!
