Comb’s Crowngrass: What You Need to Know About This Lesser-Known Grass
If you’ve stumbled across the name Comb’s crowngrass (Paspalum almum), you’re probably wondering what exactly this plant is and whether it belongs in your garden. Well, you’re not alone – this particular grass species doesn’t get much attention in gardening circles, and for good reason.
The Basics: What Is Comb’s Crowngrass?
Comb’s crowngrass is a perennial grass that falls into the broader category of grass-like plants. As a member of the Paspalum genus, it shares characteristics with other paspalum grasses, though specific details about this particular species are surprisingly scarce in gardening literature.
Where Does It Grow?
Currently, Paspalum almum can be found growing in Louisiana and Texas. However, here’s the important part: this isn’t a native plant to these areas. It’s actually a non-native species that was introduced and has established itself in the wild without human assistance.
Should You Plant Comb’s Crowngrass?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. While Comb’s crowngrass isn’t currently flagged as invasive, the lack of detailed information about its behavior and ecological impact makes it difficult to recommend with confidence. When a plant is non-native and information is limited, it’s often better to err on the side of caution.
Better Alternatives for Your Garden
If you’re looking for native grass options in Louisiana and Texas, consider these alternatives instead:
- Buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides) – drought-tolerant and low-maintenance
- Gulf muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) – stunning purple plumes in fall
- Inland sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) – attractive seed heads and good for shade
- Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – beautiful orange-red fall color
The Information Gap
One of the most telling things about Comb’s crowngrass is how little specific information is available about its garden use, growing conditions, or ecological benefits. This lack of documentation often indicates that a plant either hasn’t been widely cultivated or studied, or that it simply doesn’t offer compelling reasons for gardeners to choose it over better-known alternatives.
Making the Right Choice
When choosing plants for your landscape, it’s generally wise to select species with well-documented benefits and growing requirements. Native plants are almost always the better choice because they:
- Support local wildlife and ecosystems
- Are adapted to local climate conditions
- Require less water and maintenance once established
- Won’t potentially become problematic in natural areas
While Comb’s crowngrass might not be inherently bad, the combination of its non-native status and the lack of compelling reasons to grow it makes it easy to pass by in favor of native alternatives that will better serve both your garden and the local environment.
The Bottom Line
Sometimes the most interesting thing about a plant is what we don’t know about it. Comb’s crowngrass falls into this category – a species that exists in the botanical world but hasn’t made much of a mark in gardening or landscaping. For most gardeners, especially those interested in supporting native ecosystems, there are simply better grass options available that offer more benefits and fewer unknowns.
