Drought Tolerant Grasses That Attract Birds to the Landscape

Ornamental grasses are not turf grasses used as a lawn; instead they are specimen plants that have attractive displays. Some are good for wildlife cover and attracting to nesting birds or as a food source. Those that are drought tolerant can stay in a landscape for two to three months at a time without needing supplemental watering. These are some water-wise sample grasses from Floridata, all with interesting foliage and the ability to bring more birds into the yard.

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

Indiangrass is a drought tolerant perennial ornamental grass that has nice fall color and will attract birds. It grows 1 foot wide and 1 to 2 feet tall in a clump form. Leaves can be pale green or dusty-blue in color. In summer there will be gold plumes above the leaves and by fall the leaves will turn gold. Plant an indiangrass plant in partial shade or full sun with any type of soil. Propagate by seed or by division in USDA hardiness zones of 3 through 9.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Another drought tolerant perennial grass, the switchgrass is a clump forming grass that grows 3 to 6 feet high. Leaves are glossy and green with flowers having a red-purple anther. In the fall the green leaves turn yellow typically, however, there are some with red, lavender, and blue displays. Plant switchgrass in partial shade with any soil that is not heavy. Propagate by seed or by division in USDA hardiness zones of 4 through 9. Switchgrass may get to be an aggressive grower.

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Little bluestem is a perennial with good fall color that is both drought tolerant and attractive to birds. It has lavender-blue nodes on pink stems. Leaves are flat and blue-green. It will grow 20 inches tall on average but may hit 3 feet in some locations. Seed will mature in fall with silver-white hairs. Plant a little bluestem in partial shade with a soil in the pH range of 5.5 to 6.0. Propagate by seed or division in USDA hardiness zones of 3 through 9.

These three ornamental grasses are of varying sizes for different uses in the landscape. Some typical locations in the yard include at the end of driveways, edges of houses, and uses as a border around the property line. Without the need for supplemental watering, they are quite low maintenance. Always check the precise variation of a plant you are buying to make sure of its growing needs, its mature size, and appearance.