Florida has many wonderful native grasses that are worthy of garden space, including Muhley Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) which has become a popular addition to plantings along roadways and in medians, as well as in home landscapes, due to its spectacular pink fall blooms. I grow it in my yard and love it, along with some of the tall Tripsacum dactyloides (Fakahatchee Grass) and a few short Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple Love Grass). My initial favorite was the less showy Tripsacum floridana, known in the landscape trade as Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass. It attracts wildlife. I was hooked on it the first spring I had it and saw a small flock of migrating Blue Grobeaks jumping up and down grabbing the seeds off the tall stalks and eating them on the ground. Those tall stalks remain after their seeds are gone and are a favorite perch for dragonflies. They also host Long-horned bees all summer -- I believe the females live in the ground, but the fuzzy males sleep on the grass stalks in large numbers at night. The same goes for the very interesting little scarab hunter wasps. Butterflies like to hang out in them for some reason, too -- and I have been able to find Ceraunus Blues there throughout the winter. Ditto for Citrine Forktail damselflies. It's only drawback is that it is somewhat "thirsty" and does not look at its best without moisture. In 2008 I added some grasses I hope will be happier when we have droughty conditions -- wiregrass, some lopsided Indian grass and some Pineywoods Dropseed. I have wildflowers interspersed with these grasses in an attempt to have a bit of the prairie here in suburbia. Whenever I want to take insect photos, I can sit in the midst of the grasses and flowers in my yard and just wait for something wonderful to show up. Quite a difference from the usual barren, boring St. Augustine lawn that requires lots of water, pesticides and fertilizers.
A female Scarlet Skimeer perched on Fakahatchee Grass stalk.
A female Scarlet Skimeer perched on Fakahatchee Grass stalk.
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