Mediterranean Grass: The Uninvited Guest in Your Desert Garden
If you’ve ever wandered through the southwestern United States and noticed small, scraggly grasses popping up in the most unlikely places, you’ve probably encountered Mediterranean grass (Schismus). This little annual grass has quite the story to tell – and it’s not always a welcome one in native gardens.
What Exactly is Mediterranean Grass?
Mediterranean grass is a non-native annual grass that originally hails from the Mediterranean region, North Africa, and parts of Asia. Despite its exotic origins, this hardy little plant has made itself quite at home in the American Southwest, where it now grows wild in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah.
This graminoid (that’s just a fancy way of saying grass-like plant) belongs to the same family as your lawn grass, but don’t expect it to create a lush green carpet. Mediterranean grass is more of a scrappy survivor than a garden showstopper.
The Good, The Bad, and The Scraggly
Let’s be honest – Mediterranean grass isn’t winning any beauty contests. This annual grass produces thin, wiry stems and small, inconspicuous seed heads that most people would describe as weedy rather than ornamental. It’s the kind of plant that shows up uninvited and makes itself at home in disturbed soils and forgotten corners of the landscape.
As a non-native species that reproduces spontaneously without human help, Mediterranean grass has established itself as a permanent resident in much of the southwestern United States. While it’s not necessarily causing major ecological disasters, it’s also not providing the same benefits that our native grasses offer to local wildlife and pollinators.
Why You Probably Don’t Want to Plant It
Here’s the thing about Mediterranean grass – most gardeners encounter it whether they want to or not. This opportunistic annual has a knack for showing up in:
- Disturbed soil areas
- Garden edges and pathways
- Areas with poor, dry soil
- Spaces between larger plantings
While Mediterranean grass is drought-tolerant and can handle tough growing conditions, it offers minimal aesthetic appeal and little to no value for pollinators. Since it’s wind-pollinated, it doesn’t produce the showy flowers that attract bees and butterflies to your garden.
Better Native Alternatives
Instead of Mediterranean grass, consider these beautiful native alternatives that will give you much more bang for your gardening buck:
- Blue grama grass – A stunning native with distinctive seed heads
- Buffalo grass – Perfect for low-maintenance lawns
- Needle-and-thread grass – Adds graceful movement to landscapes
- Indian ricegrass – Beautiful, airy seed heads and great wildlife value
These native grasses not only look better but also support local wildlife, require less water once established, and help maintain the natural character of southwestern landscapes.
If It Shows Up Anyway…
Since Mediterranean grass tends to appear on its own in disturbed soils and dry areas, you might find yourself dealing with it whether you planted it or not. The good news? As an annual, it completes its life cycle in one growing season. If you prefer not to have it around, simply remove it before it sets seed, and you can prevent future generations from taking hold.
Mediterranean grass thrives in poor, dry soils and can handle drought conditions that would stress other plants. It’s particularly fond of areas that have been disturbed by construction, foot traffic, or other activities that compact or disturb the soil.
The Bottom Line
While Mediterranean grass isn’t necessarily harmful, it’s also not adding much value to your native garden or landscape. If you’re looking to create a beautiful, ecologically beneficial outdoor space, you’ll get much better results by choosing native grasses that support local wildlife and complement the natural beauty of your region.
Think of Mediterranean grass as nature’s way of filling in the gaps – it’s doing its job as a pioneer species, but it’s probably not the star you want for your garden’s main stage.
