Smallgrass: The Tiny Native Gem Perfect for Water-Wise Gardens
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance native grass that won’t hog all the water in your garden, let me introduce you to smallgrass (Microchloa). This unassuming little perennial grass might not win any beauty contests, but it’s got some serious staying power and deserves a spot in every southwestern gardener’s toolkit.
What Exactly is Smallgrass?
Smallgrass lives up to its name – it’s a petite, fine-textured grass that forms neat little tufts or mats close to the ground. As a native perennial grass, it’s perfectly adapted to life in the American Southwest, where water is precious and the sun doesn’t mess around.
This hardy little grass belongs to the graminoid family, which is just a fancy way of saying it’s part of the grass and grass-like plant club. Unlike some of its showier cousins, smallgrass keeps things simple and elegant with its delicate seed heads that dance in the breeze.
Where Does Smallgrass Call Home?
Smallgrass is a true native of the lower 48 states, specifically making its home in Arizona and Texas. It’s perfectly adapted to the challenging conditions of the Southwest, where summer temperatures can be brutal and rainfall is often sporadic.
Why Your Garden Needs This Little Powerhouse
Here’s where smallgrass really shines – it’s the perfect plant for gardeners who want something beautiful but don’t want to baby their plants. Once established, this tough little grass can handle drought conditions that would make other plants wave the white flag.
In your garden design, smallgrass works wonderfully as:
- Groundcover in xeriscape landscapes
- Erosion control on slopes or disturbed areas
- Texture contrast in native plant gardens
- Filler between larger desert shrubs and cacti
Perfect Garden Matches
Smallgrass is tailor-made for certain types of gardens:
- Desert gardens: It’s right at home among cacti, agaves, and other desert natives
- Xeriscaping: Perfect for water-wise landscaping
- Native plant gardens: Adds authentic southwestern character
- Naturalistic landscapes: Great for creating that wild, untamed look
Growing Conditions That Make Smallgrass Happy
The beauty of smallgrass lies in its simplicity. This little survivor thrives in conditions that would stress out many other plants:
- Sunlight: Full sun is where it’s happiest
- Soil: Well-draining soils are essential – it hates wet feet
- Water: Drought tolerant once established, but appreciates occasional deep watering
- Climate: Thrives in USDA hardiness zones 8-10
Planting and Care Tips
Getting smallgrass established in your garden is refreshingly straightforward:
Planting: You can start smallgrass from seed or plant divisions if you can find them. Spring is the ideal planting time, giving the grass a full growing season to establish before facing its first winter.
Watering: Water regularly during the establishment period (first year), then back off gradually. Once established, it can survive on natural rainfall in most of its native range.
Maintenance: This is where smallgrass really wins points – it requires minimal care. It may go dormant during extreme heat, which is completely normal. Don’t panic if it looks a bit stressed during the hottest part of summer.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
While smallgrass doesn’t offer much in the way of direct pollinator benefits (it’s wind-pollinated like most grasses), it does provide habitat and nesting material for small wildlife. Its seeds may also feed birds and small mammals.
The grass tends to stay quite small and low-growing, so don’t expect dramatic height or bold visual impact. Instead, think of it as the quiet, reliable friend in your garden – always there when you need it, never causing drama.
The Bottom Line
Smallgrass might not be the star of your garden show, but it’s definitely a valuable supporting player. If you’re gardening in Arizona or Texas and looking for a truly native, water-wise groundcover that won’t demand constant attention, smallgrass deserves serious consideration. It’s proof that sometimes the best plants are the ones that simply do their job without any fuss – and in a world of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, that’s exactly the kind of reliability we need in our gardens.
