Grass is a valuable landscaping tool, used for ornamental value or to create borders, lawns and fields. Grass can be used for cattle and animal grazing, or simply to add a touch of green to a home or business property. Gardeners have a range of grasses to choose from when filling in a field, and those who live in hot, drought heavy climates still have many attractive choices.
Red grass (Bothriochloa macra) is a hardy perennial grass that thrives in warm climates, growing even across cracked, disturbed soil. The vibrant green grass is often used in lawns, fields and in pastures for cattle grazing. The grass produces reddish purple flowers during the summer through fall. Red grass has a low to moderate frost tolerance, though it is highly drought and heat tolerant. Red grass prefers heavy clays and loams with a slight acidity.
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is a tall-growing, upright grass that can reach heights of up to 7 feet. Native to Southern Canada, the central and southern United States and northern Mexico, Big Bluestem is a perennial prairie grass that once covered much of the United States. Highly drought tolerant, Big Bluestem requires full sun and little else. The grass will grow in a range of soils, including well-drained sandy soils, heavier clay soils and both alkaline and acidic soils.
Wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia spp.) is a hardy field grass that grows naturally throughout temperate regions in Australia. Boasting fluffy white tops, Wallaby grass is an attractive grass that is commonly grown in pastures and in the nutrient poor soils by roadsides. The grass is both drought and frost hardy, requiring full sunlight and well-drained soils. Wallaby grass will grow in highly acidic soils, and in medium clays and sandy loams.