Muttongrass: A Hardy Native Grass for Water-Wise Gardens
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance native grass that can handle tough conditions while adding natural texture to your landscape, muttongrass (Poa fendleriana fendleriana) might just be your new best friend. This unassuming perennial bunch grass has been quietly thriving across western North America for centuries, and it’s ready to bring that same resilience to your garden.
What Makes Muttongrass Special?
Muttongrass is a true native champion, naturally occurring across an impressive range from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba, all the way down through the western United States. You’ll find this adaptable grass growing wild in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
As a perennial bunch grass, muttongrass forms neat, erect clumps that typically reach about 2.6 feet tall at maturity. Its fine-textured green foliage creates a soft, natural appearance that works beautifully in prairie-style plantings and naturalized areas.
Why Choose Muttongrass for Your Garden?
This grass is practically the definition of low-maintenance gardening. Here’s what makes it such a winner:
- Drought champion: Once established, muttongrass thrives with minimal water, making it perfect for xeriscaping
- Low fertility needs: It doesn’t demand rich soil or frequent fertilizing
- Fire tolerant: A great choice for areas prone to wildfires
- Cold hardy: Can withstand temperatures as low as -33°F
- Erosion control: Those deep roots (minimum 12 inches) help stabilize soil
Where Does Muttongrass Shine in the Landscape?
Think of muttongrass as nature’s carpet – it’s perfect for creating natural groundcover in areas where you want a prairie or grassland feel. It works wonderfully in:
- Native plant gardens and prairie restorations
- Water-wise landscapes and xeriscapes
- Naturalized areas where you want low-maintenance coverage
- Slopes and areas needing erosion control
- Transitional zones between cultivated and wild spaces
Growing Conditions and Care
Muttongrass is refreshingly unfussy about its growing conditions. Here’s what it prefers:
- Soil: Adapts well to coarse and medium-textured soils; avoid heavy clay
- Water: Low water needs once established (10-30 inches annual precipitation)
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade (intermediate shade tolerance)
- pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.3-8.0)
- Climate: Needs at least 90 frost-free days but handles cold winters well
Planting and Establishment Tips
Muttongrass is typically grown from seed, and patience is key – this isn’t a grass that rushes to establish. Here’s how to succeed:
- Timing: Plant seeds in spring for best results
- Seeding rate: With about 890,000 seeds per pound, a little goes a long way
- Germination: Expect medium seedling vigor and slow initial spread
- Growth rate: Moderate growth once established, with active growth in spring and summer
- Patience required: This grass takes time to establish but rewards you with long-term durability
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
While muttongrass is wonderfully low-maintenance, it’s not the showiest grass in the garden. Its flowers are small and yellow, blooming in mid-spring, but they’re not particularly conspicuous. The real beauty lies in its fine texture and natural, prairie-like appearance.
Also, commercial availability can be limited – you might need to seek out specialized native plant suppliers or seed companies that focus on regional native species.
The Bottom Line
Muttongrass might not win any beauty contests, but it’s a reliable, drought-tolerant native that does exactly what you need it to do with minimal fuss. If you’re creating a water-wise landscape, establishing a prairie garden, or simply want a low-maintenance ground cover that supports your local ecosystem, this humble grass deserves serious consideration. Sometimes the best garden plants are the ones that quietly do their job while you focus on the flashier stars of your landscape.
