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What Kind of Lawn Is Native to North Carolina?

Exotic plants and grasses were introduced to North Carolina in part to provide a habitat for the state's wildlife. Unfortunately, in some cases the results have been just the opposite, as those plants became invasive and started crowding out the state's native plants and grasses, according to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Native grasses can provide a more natural-looking lawn that requires less care while enhancing the state's natural ecosystem.

  1. North Carolina Regions

    • North Carolina is made up of three major distinct geographical regions: the mountains, the coastal plains and the Piedmont. Each region has its own unique soil and environmental characteristics, with U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones ranging from 6 in the eastern part of the state to 8 in the west. Some of the state's native grasses grow well in all three regions, while others are a bit more finicky, according to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

    Mountains

    • North Carolina's mountain region is the smallest of the state's geographic regions, covering the western portion of the state and includes USDA zones 6a and 6b. Elevations reach more than a mile high in some areas. Splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius) is a native grass that does well in dry areas that get full sun. If your environment ranges from moist to dry, you might consider Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans). The "Panicum virgatum" variety of switchgrass can handle moist environments with full sun to partial shade, but switchcane (Arundinaria gigantea) is the most versatile, able to grow in wet to dry conditions, from full sun to shade.

    Piedmont and Coast Plains

    • All of North Carolina's native grasses grow in certain portions of the state's Piedmont and coast plains regions where the USDA zones include 7a, 7b and 8a. Wiregrass (Aristida stricta) grows in dry environments of these regions with full sun to partial shade, while brushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus) prefers full sun with moist soil. Splitbeard bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass and switchcane are also native throughout the state.

    Considerations

    • North Carolina's native grasses make excellent ornamental plants and can provide suitable habitats for wildlife if you prefer a naturalistic approach to your landscaping, but none is especially well-suited for manicured lawns. Though not native to the state, several other grasses are recommended by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. For cool-season lawns, it recommends tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea, USDA zones 4 through 7) or blends of fescue and bluegrass (Poa protensis, USDA zones 3 through 7). Warm-season grasses, such as centipede (Eremochloa ophiuroides, USDA zones 7 through 10), zoysia (Zoysia japonica, USDA zones 5 through 10), bermuda (Cynodon dactylon, USDA zones 7 through 10) and St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum, USDA zones 8 through 10), tend to better tolerate the state's tendency toward high temperatures and summer drought conditions.

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