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Plant Lists

This guide organizes, categorizes and provides information about plants from the Maricopa Native Seed Library.

Big Galleta Grass (Hilaria rigida)

Difficulty level:  Easy

 

 Big galleta grass

Danielle Carlock 

 

This very drought tolerant grass lends itself to naturalistic landscapes.  

TYPE SIZE FLOWERS GERMINATION CARE WILDLIFE BENEFITS EDIBLE OTHER

Grass

 3'X3'

Brown/yellow inflorescences (grass flowers) (Apr-May)
 

Direct sow or scatter

Full sun, very low water

Used for forage/graze

  No

Very drought tolerant

Recommended use in the landscape:  As one of the most drought tolerant grasses in the West, Big Galleta grass can be planted in areas that don’t receive much in the way of irrigation. Pairs well with other very low water use plants such as Creosote (Larrea tridentata) and Four Wing Saltbush (Atriplex canescens)

For further information:

Native North American Plant database, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 2020. Big Galleta Grass profile.

SEINet, 2020. Big Galleta grass profile.

 

 

                                                         

 

 

Purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea)

Other common names:  Red threeawn

Difficulty level (when grown from seed):  Easy

 

Purple threeawn plant

Purple threeawn, by Steve Jones. 

 

Valuable native grass for wildlife while providing beauty in the landscape 

TYPE SIZE FLOWERS GERMINATION CARE WILDLIFE BENEFITS EDIBLE CAUTIONS

Grass

  2'X1'

Purple 
(Apr-Oct)

Direct sow or scatter

Full sun, low water once established   

Host plant for skipper
and satyr butterflies; provides nesting materials/structure
for native bees; seeds eaten by birds
 

No

 Seeds attach to socks/other knits

Recommended use in the landscape: As a bunchgrass, Purple threeawn can be massed for effect or scattered amongst wildflowers or cacti for contrast.

For further information:

Native North American Plant database, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 2020.  Aristida purpurea profile.  

SEINet. 2020. Aristida purpurea profile.  

 

 

 

                                                         

 

 

Side oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)

Other common names:  Banderilla, Banderita, Navajita

Difficulty level (when grown from seed): Easy, if planted in Fall (see below)

 

Side oats gramma grass

Side oats gramma, by Max Licher. 

 

One of our most attractive grasses with unique side hanging seeds

TYPE SIZE FLOWERS GERMINATION CARE WILDLIFE BENEFITS EDIBLE

Grass

  3'X2' 

Red/orange/
yellow
(Jun-Nov)

Direct sown or scatter in Fall. If planting in Spring requires 30
day cold- moist stratification

Full sun or partial sun, low water once established   

Provides nesting material/structure
for native bees, 
host plant for several skipper butterfly species, Hualapai buckmoth, Viened Ctenucha moth

 

No

Recommended use in the landscape:  Can mass for a stunning effect or disperse among cacti/succulents or wildflowers

For further information:

Native North American Plant database, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 2020. Bouteloua curtipendula profile.  

SEINet. 2020. Bouteloua curtipendula profile. Retrieved from