Top native grasses
14 species, native to the US, ranked by caterpillars, then bees and other hosts, food, flowers and shelter.
-
Red Fescue
Festuca rubra
keystone
caterpillars
20
food
30
shelter
1
-
Saint Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum
caterpillars
13
food
3
flowers
13
shelter
1
-
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
caterpillars
12
food
15
flowers
5
-
Deertongue
Dichanthelium clandestinum
caterpillars
7
hosts
2
food
8
flowers
7
-
Reed Canary Grass
Phalaris arundinacea
caterpillars
7
food
16
flowers
34
-
River Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium
caterpillars
4
food
1
flowers
6
-
Nimblewill
Muhlenbergia schreberi
caterpillars
2
food
11
-
Hairawn Muhly
Muhlenbergia capillaris
caterpillars
2
food
6
flowers
1
-
Broadleaf Signalgrass
Urochloa platyphylla
caterpillars
2
food
3
-
Cutover Muhly
Muhlenbergia expansa
caterpillars
2
food
2
-
Lyme Grass
Leymus arenarius
caterpillars
2
food
1
-
Wire Grass
Aristida stricta
caterpillars
2
-
Sea Oats
Uniola paniculata
caterpillars
1
food
6
shelter
1
-
Narrow-leaved Carpetgrass
Axonopus fissifolius
caterpillars
1
food
1