Desert grass varieties are low maintenance because they do not demand a good deal of water to grow nicely. These grasses are satisfied to areas where water isn’t readily available for plant maintenance. Most desert plants live on agriculture alone, and the maintenance needed for these plants contains weed control and annual cutting, but not mowing.
Bunch Grass
Desert bunch grass creates clumps that work as a ground cover with very little upkeep. Blue fescue grass (Festuca glauca) attains six to 15 inches tall, spreading around 18 inches wide in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Through the summer, this grass makes green or tan flowers with a purple tint. The clumps of blue-green grass develop the best color when planted in full sun locations and retain the blue shade through the winter in mild weather areas. This grass will die out in the center of the clumps and requires dividing every two to three decades. Cut the blue fescue grass back to only four inches tall in the first spring to generate room for new growth.
Showy Grass
Some desert grasses produce colored flower plumes, which attract attention and look good in cut flower arrangements. Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) grows up to 24 inches tall, forming clumps 12 to 24 inches wide in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. This perennial grass produces reddish-purple blooms on plumes over the blades. Blue grama grass needs full sun locations and cutting down to ground level in the late winter before new growth starts. The showy seed heads provide food for birds as well as the grass will self-seed itself.
Bird Food Grass
Many desert grasses produce seeds, which little animals and birds feed on in the desert. One grass appealing to birds is Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), which is native to Southwest desert areas. This perennial grass reaches 12 inches tall in USDA zones 6 through 9. The airy summer flowers turn into lacy seed heads at the fall. This grass looks like a clumping grass that’s been electrocuted. Indian ricegrass seeds attract birds like sparrows, finches and doves.
Low-Growing Grass
Low-growing desert grass stays short without mowing and develops a naturalized appearance in the lawn. Buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) grows only four to eight inches tall, creating a compact coverage. This warm-season grass produces gray-green blades during the summer and turns straw shade in the beach. This grass grows best in full sun, but tolerates light shady conditions. In USDA zones 3 through 9, this grass spreads through runners. Seeds attract sparrows and finches to the lawn in the summer.