Favorite Plants of
Pacific Plant People
Member Profile
John Greenlee
Known as the “Grassman” in horticultural circles, John Greenlee is an internationally known horticulturist and landscape designer specializing in the cultivation and study of grasses and grass-like plants. He is the author of The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses (Rodale, 1992) and The American Meadow Garden (Timber Press, 2009).
As an expert in grass ecology and champion of sustainable design, John Greenlee has created meadows not only in the United States, but throughout the world. Some of his most notable gardens include the Getty Museum and the Norton Simon Museum in Los Angeles, the savannas at Walt Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida, and, most recently, at De Tuinen van Appeltern in the Netherlands.
Silver Tussock "Poa cita"
Zoysia ‘Stadium’
Slender grama "Bouteloua repens"
Drought Resilient
Plant Family
Poaceae
Genus
Bouteloua
Species
Slender grama "Bouteloua repens"
Its native range extends from the southwestern United States through the Caribbean islands, Mexico, and Central America to Colombia and Venezuela. John has collected Bouteloua repens about 50-miles from downtown Los Angeles on the edge of the Mojave Desert at an elevation of 8,500 feet near Big Bear Lake.
Water Use
Low-Water Use
Conditions When It Thrives
Open, usually hilly terrain on many soil types, from sandy ocean shores to montane slopes, reaching elevations of 2500 m
Ecosystem Services
Native To
Southwestern United States
Geographic Range
Caribbean islands, Mexico, and Central America to Colombia and Venezuela
Availability
Height & Habit
Perhaps eight inches high in flower, Greenlee recommends this as an airy accent to a succulent planting.
Special Features
Reported to be resistant to cattle-grazing
Why They Love It
Greenlee says this grama grass has the most vivid green foliage he’s encountered as well as standout raspberry pink florets that dry on the plant.
Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy
Open, loosely upright habit, slender leaves that are deciduous in winter.
Advice
Silver Tussock "Poa cita"
Drought Resilient
Plant Family
Poaceae
Genus
Poa
Species
Silver Tussock "Poa cita"
This Grass Has No Bad Hair Days. Poa cita, commonly known as the silver tussock, or wī, which is also the Māori name, is a grass of the family Poaceae that is native to New Zealand.
Water Use
Low Water, Drought Tolerant
Conditions When It Thrives
Prefers dry climate and can tolerate a range of soils, but prefers some irrigation, especially in summer.
Ecosystem Services
Native To
New Zealand
Geographic Range
Availability
Height & Habit
About 2.5’ in each direction, this is a politely clumping grass.
Special Features
Evergreen
Why They Love It
This wispy evergreen grass offers the same year-round texture as Mexican Feather Grass but doesn’t self-seed. Can be used as a stand-alone accent or en mass as a groundcover.
Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy
Poa Cita’s upright, arching foliage emerges yellow-green to be joined by graceful bronze inflorescences in late summer
Advice
Zoysia ‘Stadium’
Drought Resilient
Plant Family
Poaceae
Genus
Zoysia
Species
Zoysia ‘Stadium’
California’s Lawn of the Future. It needs less mowing and fertilizer than many other turf options. Greenlee is using it as a pathway in his meadows and says you can boost its environmental value by interplanting it with pollinator-friendly bulbs.
Water Use
Low Water, Drought-loving
Conditions When It Thrives
In the wild, species of zoysia naturalize in volcanic or low pH soils, and even salt beds.
Ecosystem Services
Drought-loving once established, and its deep roots are great stabilizers.
Native To
‘Stadium’ is a cultivar. Zoysia species are native to China, Japan, and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Geographic Range
Zoysia grasses grow well across the southern U.S.
Availability
Height & Habit
Special Features
Zoysia grasses have salt glands on their blades that extract salt from the soil forming crystals. Breeder Bladerunner Farms recommends removing clippings from salt-sensitive sites.
Why They Love It
For sportsfields, or people with kids, this new cultivar of Zoysiagrass is slow growing and drought-loving once established, so well-suited for sustainable properties looking for a lower-input lawn. It needs less mowing and fertilizer than many other turf options. Greenlee is using it as a pathway in his meadows and says you can boost its environmental value by interplanting it with pollinator-friendly bulbs.
Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy
Fine-textured deep glossy green, dense growth holds color until late fall and greens up early in spring.
Advice
Slender grama "Bouteloua repens"
Drought Resilient
Plant Family
Poaceae
Genus
Bouteloua
Species
Slender grama "Bouteloua repens"
Its native range extends from the southwestern United States through the Caribbean islands, Mexico, and Central America to Colombia and Venezuela. John has collected Bouteloua repens about 50-miles from downtown Los Angeles on the edge of the Mojave Desert at an elevation of 8,500 feet near Big Bear Lake.
Water Use
Low-Water Use
Conditions When It Thrives
Open, usually hilly terrain on many soil types, from sandy ocean shores to montane slopes, reaching elevations of 2500 m
Ecosystem Services
Native To
Southwestern United States
Geographic Range
Caribbean islands, Mexico, and Central America to Colombia and Venezuela
Availability
Height & Habit
Perhaps eight inches high in flower, Greenlee recommends this as an airy accent to a succulent planting.
Special Features
Reported to be resistant to cattle-grazing
Why They Love It
Greenlee says this grama grass has the most vivid green foliage he’s encountered as well as standout raspberry pink florets that dry on the plant.
Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy
Open, loosely upright habit, slender leaves that are deciduous in winter.
Advice
Silver Tussock "Poa cita"
Drought Resilient
Plant Family
Poaceae
Genus
Poa
Species
Silver Tussock "Poa cita"
This Grass Has No Bad Hair Days. Poa cita, commonly known as the silver tussock, or wī, which is also the Māori name, is a grass of the family Poaceae that is native to New Zealand.
Water Use
Low Water, Drought Tolerant
Conditions When It Thrives
Prefers dry climate and can tolerate a range of soils, but prefers some irrigation, especially in summer.
Ecosystem Services
Native To
New Zealand
Geographic Range
Availability
Height & Habit
About 2.5’ in each direction, this is a politely clumping grass.
Special Features
Evergreen
Why They Love It
This wispy evergreen grass offers the same year-round texture as Mexican Feather Grass but doesn’t self-seed. Can be used as a stand-alone accent or en mass as a groundcover.
Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy
Poa Cita’s upright, arching foliage emerges yellow-green to be joined by graceful bronze inflorescences in late summer
Advice
Zoysia ‘Stadium’
Drought Resilient
Plant Family
Poaceae
Genus
Zoysia
Species
Zoysia ‘Stadium’
California’s Lawn of the Future. It needs less mowing and fertilizer than many other turf options. Greenlee is using it as a pathway in his meadows and says you can boost its environmental value by interplanting it with pollinator-friendly bulbs.
Water Use
Low Water, Drought-loving
Conditions When It Thrives
In the wild, species of zoysia naturalize in volcanic or low pH soils, and even salt beds.
Ecosystem Services
Drought-loving once established, and its deep roots are great stabilizers.
Native To
‘Stadium’ is a cultivar. Zoysia species are native to China, Japan, and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Geographic Range
Zoysia grasses grow well across the southern U.S.
Availability
Height & Habit
Special Features
Zoysia grasses have salt glands on their blades that extract salt from the soil forming crystals. Breeder Bladerunner Farms recommends removing clippings from salt-sensitive sites.
Why They Love It
For sportsfields, or people with kids, this new cultivar of Zoysiagrass is slow growing and drought-loving once established, so well-suited for sustainable properties looking for a lower-input lawn. It needs less mowing and fertilizer than many other turf options. Greenlee is using it as a pathway in his meadows and says you can boost its environmental value by interplanting it with pollinator-friendly bulbs.
Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy
Fine-textured deep glossy green, dense growth holds color until late fall and greens up early in spring.