Top native grasses

100 species, native to the US, ranked by caterpillars, then bees and other hosts, food, flowers and shelter.

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100 native plants

Sun and shade

Light

Full sun 100 Part shade 82 Dappled shade 6 Full shade 13

Soil and water

Moisture

Dry 53 Well drained 12 Moist 32 Wet 17

Water use

Low 35 Medium 30 High 13

Soil

Rocky 7 Sand 22 Loam 16 Clay 15 Organic 5

Soil pH

Acid 12 Neutral 10 Alkaline 9

Toughness

Drought tolerant

Deer resistant

Resists

Dry soil 11 Black walnut 9 Erosion 8 Pollution 8 Poor soil 8 Heat 7 Salt 7 Wet soil 7 Humidity 5 Foot traffic 3 Compaction 1 Diseases 1 Insect pests 1 Rabbits 1

Form

Habit

Clumping 13 Erect 13 Spreading 8 Arching 7 Dense 4 Ascending 2 Creeping 2 Horizontal 2 Mounding 2 Columnar 1 Open 1 Prostrate 1

Plant type

Ornamental grasses and sedges 99 Perennial 70 Annual 12 Herbaceous perennial 10 Ground cover 4 Weed 4 Turfgrass 3 Edible 1