By Antonia Torrey, UC Master Gardener
1. Seashore Bentgrass (Agrostis pallens) – California Native | |
Disease and pest free: Yes | Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate |
Water: Drought tolerant to regular | Sunset climate zones: 1-9, 14-24 |
Soil: Adaptable | Sun Exposure: Sun to shade |
Height: 4-12 inches | Leaf color: Light green |
Flower: Golden spike clusters to 2 feet | Maintenance: Occasional mowing |
Trims into a lawn: Yes | Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold-Yes |
Dormancy: In dry gardens fully summer dormant but can be maintained with water | Wildlife: Deer resistant |
2. UC Verde Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) – California Native, bred at UC Davis | |
Disease and pest free: Yes | Tolerant of foot traffic: Yes |
Water: Drought tolerant | Sunset climate zones: 5-24 |
Soil: Adaptable | Sun Exposure: Does best in full sun |
Height: 6-7 inches | Leaf color: Bright green |
Flower: Seedless | Maintenance: Occasional mowing |
Trims into a lawn: Yes | Temp Tolerance: Heat Yes, Cold No |
Dormancy: Winter dormant if frost areas | Wildlife: Deer resistant |
3. Clustered Field Sedge (Carex praegracilis) - California Native | |
Disease and pest free: Yes | Tolerant of foot traffic: Yes, extremely durable |
Water: Drought tolerant | Sunset climate zones: 1-5, 15-17, 22-24 |
Soil: Tolerant of poor soils | Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade |
Height: 16 inches | Leaf color: Green to yellow-green |
Flower: Inconspicuous | Maintenance: Fast growing, regular mowing |
Trims into a lawn: Yes | Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes |
Dormancy: Away from coast, will turn brown with minimal summer irrigation | Wildlife: Deer resistant |
4. Silver Carpet (Dymondia margaretae) – South Africa Native (Sunflower family) | |
Disease and pests: Gophers | Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate |
Water: Drought tolerant, occasional to regular | Sunset climate zones: 17-24 |
Soil: Likes well drained | Sun Exposure: Sun to partial shade |
Height: 3 inches | Leaf color: Green and silver-white |
Flower: Small daisy-like yellow | Maintenance: Occasional weeding, good grower |
Trims into a lawn: No trimming | Temp Tolerance: Frost tender |
Dormancy: Evergreen perennial | Wildlife: Attracts butterflies |
5. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) – Europe Native – ‘Festina’ | |
Disease and pest free: Yes | Tolerant of foot traffic: No |
Water: Drought tolerant, occasional to regular | Sunset climate zones:1-9, 14-24 |
Soil: Adaptable, grows best in well drained | Sun Exposure: Coast full sun, interior partial shade |
Height: 10 to 18 inches | Leaf color: Blue to silver blue |
Flower: Summer in spikes | Maintenance: Low |
Trims into a lawn: Not too well; grows in dense tufts | Temp Tolerance: Cold- yes, Hot- no |
Dormancy: Evergreen | Wildlife: Deer resistant |
6. Idaho Fescue (Festuca idahoensis) – California Native – ‘Siskiyou Blue’ | |
Disease and pest free: Yes | Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate |
Water: Drought tolerant, occasional to regular | Sunset climate zones: 1-10, 14-24 |
Soil: Tolerant of most types | Sun Exposure: Coast full sun, interior partial shad |
Height: 12 to 18 inches | Leaf color: Blue to blue green |
Flower: Amber 18 inches above foliage | Maintenance: Occasional dividing |
Trims into a lawn: Not too well; grows in dense clumps | Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes |
Dormancy: Evergreen | Wildlife: Deer resistant |
7. Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca rubra) – California Native – ‘Molate’ | |
Disease and pest free: Yes | Tolerant of foot traffic: Some tolerance |
Water: Drought tolerant, occasional to reg. | Sunset climate zones:A2, A3, |
Soil: Not fussy | Sun Exposure: One of the most shade tolerant grasses. Coast full sun, interior partial shade |
Height: 6 to 12 inches | Leaf color: Narrow dark green blades |
Flower: Inconspicuous | Maintenance: Low |
Trims into a lawn: Yes | Temp Tolerance: Not well in hot climates, except shady dry areas |
Dormancy: Evergreen | Wildlife: Deer resistant |
8. Kurapia (Lippia nodiflora) - ‘Kurapia New White’ or ‘Kurapia Pink’ | |
Disease and pest free: Yes | Tolerant of foot traffic: Light |
Water: Drought tolerant | Sunset climate zones: 1-9, 14-24 |
Soil: Adaptable | Sun Exposure: Full sun; tolerates partial shade |
Height: 4-12 inches | Leaf color: Dark green |
Flower: White or pink | Maintenance: Low |
Trims into a lawn: No trimming | Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes |
Dormancy Evergreen in winter; semi-dormant when average daily temperature falls below 38° | Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant |
9. Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - California Native | |
Disease and pest free: Yes | Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate |
Water: Drought tolerant once established | Sunset climate zones:A1, A3, 1-24 |
Soil: Adapts to a variety of soil compositions, from sandy, to loamy, to clay | Sun Exposure: Full sun |
Height: Up to three feet. | Leaf color: Green to grayish-green |
Flower :White, yellow, pink, red, purple, orange | Maintenance: Low |
Trims into a lawn: Mow or clip for ground cover | Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes |
Dormancy: Winter | Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant |
10. Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) | |
Disease and pests: Aphids, thrips, mealybugs | Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate |
Water: Fairly drought tolerant once established | Sunset climate zones: 2-24 |
Soil: Will grow well in poor soil | Sun Exposure: Full sun or partial shade |
Height: 3-6 inches | Leaf color: Bright light green |
Flower :Resemble little daisies | Maintenance: Low |
Trims into a lawn: Mow or clip for ground cover | Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes |
Dormancy: Winter | Wildlife: Attracts bees; deer resistant |
11. Creeping Oregano (Origanum vulgare) - ‘Humile’ | |
Disease and pests: Spider mites, aphids | Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate |
Water: Drought tolerant | Sunset climate zones: 1-24 |
Soil: Tolerant of poor soils, needs good drainage | Sun Exposure: Full sun |
Height: 6 inches | Leaf color: Light green |
Flower: Purple, pink, or white | Maintenance: Low |
Trims into a lawn: Mow or clip for ground cover | Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes |
Dormancy: Late fall and winter | Wildlife: Attracts butterflies; deer resistant |
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12. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) - ‘Pink Chintz’ | |
Disease and pests: Spider mites, aphids | Tolerant of foot traffic: Yes |
Water: Drought tolerant | Sunset climate zones: A1, 1A, 1B, A2, 1-22 |
Soil: Adaptable | Sun Exposure: Full sun |
Height: 2-3 inches | Leaf color: Blueish green |
Flower: Pink | Maintenance: Low |
Trims into a lawn: Mow or clip to stimulate new growth | Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes |
Dormancy: :Late fall and winter | Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant |
13. Nana Dwarf Carpet of Stars (Ruschia lineolata) | |
Disease and pest free: Yes | Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate |
Water: Drought tolerant | Sunset climate zones: 16-26, H1, H2 |
Soil: Tolerates a range of soil types | Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade |
Height: 2 inches | Leaf color: Green and silver white |
Flower: White with pink stripes | Maintenance: Very low |
Trims into a lawn: No trimming | Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes |
Dormancy: Evergreen perennial | Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant |
References
Kurapia: A New Low-Water Groundcover. UC Davis California Center for Urban Horticulture. https://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/resources/projects/smartlandscape-at-ucdavis/smartlawn/turf-alternative-kurapia
Lawn and Lawn Alternatives. UC Marin Master Gardeners. LAWN & ALTERNATIVES - UC Marin Master Gardeners (ucanr.edu)
No-Mow Fineleaf Fescue Grasses for California Urban Landscapes. UC ANR. No-Mow Fineleaf Fescue Grasses for California Urban Landscapes (ucanr.edu)
‘UC Verde’ Buffalograss. UCCE. Environ, Horticulture ,Pears, Cherries and Viticulture.
'UC Verde' Buffalograss - Environ. Horticulture, Pears, Cherries, and Viticulture (ucanr.edu)
Waterwise Landscaping for San Luis Obispo County. Water-Wise Gardening in San Luis Obispo County (slowaterwiselandscaping.com)