7 Best Drought-Tolerant Grasses For Gardens In Victoria, BC

Incorporating drought-tolerant grasses into your garden in Victoria, BC, can add texture, movement, and a touch of green that requires minimal watering once established. Here are seven grasses well-suited for the region's conditions:

1. Festuca glauca (Blue Fescue): This small, clumping ornamental grass is prized for its blue-gray foliage. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a perfect choice for rock gardens or borders.
2. Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass): With its fine, feathery foliage that moves beautifully in the breeze, Mexican Feather Grass is a favorite for adding texture to the landscape. It prefers full sun and tolerates poor soil.
3. Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' (Purple Fountain Grass): This ornamental grass features striking burgundy foliage and arching flower plumes. It's an excellent choice for adding color and drama to a drought-tolerant garden.
4. Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem): Native to North America, Little Bluestem is known for its tolerance to drought and poor soils. Its foliage changes color with the seasons, from blue-green in summer to bronze and red in fall.
5. Carex testacea (Orange Sedge): Though not a true grass, Orange Sedge has grass-like foliage that turns a beautiful orange hue in full sun. It's an excellent, low-growing plant for adding color to a drought-tolerant garden.
6. Muhlenbergia rigens (Deer Grass): A native grass that thrives in full sun to partial shade, Deer Grass is known for its adaptability to various soil types and its drought tolerance once established. It features dense clumps of slender, arching leaves.
7. Bouteloua gracilis (Blue Grama Grass): Blue Grama Grass is a drought-tolerant native grass known for its distinctive, eyebrow-like seed heads. It prefers full sun and can thrive in a variety of soil types, making it a versatile choice for a low-water garden.

These grasses can provide year-round interest in your Victoria, BC, garden, with minimal watering and care required once they're established. By selecting the right varieties and planting them in suitable locations, you can enjoy the beauty and benefits of ornamental grasses while conserving water.