Check out common yarrow. It's a good native grass alternative and if you let it get tall you get flowers. Answer from StormAutomatic on reddit.com
Californialawnalternatives
californialawnalternatives.com
Drought Tolerant Grass and Groundcovers - California Lawn Alternatives
We offer California Lawn Alternatives plugs of UC Verde Buffalo Grass, Kurapia ground cover, and Ruschia 'Nana' succulents, which are best for your home lawn. They save you time, water, money, and the environment! Shop now!
'UC Verde'
'UC Verde' Buffalo Grass is a tough and sustainable lawn substitute. This drought tolerant grass requires very little water, low maintenance, and low to no mowing.
Kurapia
'Kurapia' is an evergreen ground cover. A low maintenance and low water lawn alternative, it also provides excellent erosion control and weed abatement.
Ruschia 'Nana'
Ruschia 'Nana' is a drought tolerant evergreen succulent. It's a very durable and low maintenance lawn replacement, suppresses weeds, and works well with pavers.
Shop
California Lawn Alternatives provides a range of 3 different low maintenance and water wise grasses and ground covers. Replace your lawn and save time, water, and money!
California Wild Gardens
calwildgardens.com › pages › 3-easy-lawn-alternatives-for-drought-conscious-californians
The 3 Best Lawn Alternatives for Drought-Conscious Californian's – California Wild Gardens
It is mowing-optional, pollinator-friendly, and incredibly drought-tolerant. ... All sod and plugs require deep regular irrigation in the first year to fully root. No winter water. AKA: Agrostis pallens, San Diego Bentgrass, Thingrass · This is the closest thing to conventional sod that California native grass has accomplished so far.
Videos
03:55
Introducing Drought Tolerant Lawn for California - YouTube
07:26
California Native & Drought-tolerant Garden in June -- SoCalNPG ...
Traditional lawns can use a lot of water and maintenance, and ...
05:04
Best Drought Tolerant Grasses for Southern California - YouTube
05:05
California Native No Mow Lawn | Sara Bendrick - YouTube
04:03
Drought Tolerant Lawn - Native California Bentgrass - Video Update ...
Ecologyartisans
ecologyartisans.com › blog › 5-southern-california-drought-tolerant-grasses
5 Beautiful Southern California Drought Tolerant Grasses
Here is a backyard slope Ecology Artisans designed and installed using Southern California drought tolerant plants. While not one grass in particular, meadows are one of our favorite drought tolerant lawn alternatives. A meadow is a combination ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/guerrillagardening › los angeles grass alternatives?
r/GuerrillaGardening on Reddit: Los Angeles grass alternatives?
December 5, 2023 -
Hi everyone, I live in LA and I like the look and feel of a grass lawn but don’t want the water usage and maintenance, I was thinking of going with turf but I’ve been reading negative things about that lately, so I thought I’d ask in here. I discovered this subreddit when I read an article about clovers. Any other ideas? Positives and negatives about clovers? Thanks!
California Native Plant Society
cnps.org › home › stories › native grass alternatives to lawns
Native Grass Alternatives to Lawns - California Native Plant Society
January 24, 2025 - While not technically a grass, Meadow Sedge closely imitates the look and feel of a traditional lawn when mowed. This sedge is best suited to coastal and temperate climates. Without regular water during the summer, it will go dormant in warm ...
Design Scapes Inc
design-scapes-inc.com › home › best drought tolerant grass for southern california
Best Drought Tolerant Grass for Southern California
May 26, 2025 - Constantly watering your grass or running a sprinkler system can cause your bills to skyrocket. A University of California study recently showed that a hybrid Bermuda grass is the most drought-tolerant variety.
TIFTUF
lawndelivery.com › blogs › news › the-best-lawn-alternative-for-california-1
The Best Lawn Alternative for California – Sod and Seed, Inc.
You can ditch your sod lawn, and throw the lawn mower out with Frog Fruit ground cover lawn alternative because it is a drought tolerant lawn alternative, no mow lawn alternative, low maintenance lawn alternative, eco-friendly lawn alternative, ...
Nature's Seed
naturesseed.com › blog › 5-lawn-alternatives-for-dealing-with-the-california-drought
5 Lawn Alternatives for Dealing with the California Drought - ...
August 4, 2025 - Like other warm-season grasses, blue grama should be planted in the late spring or early summer and does best in areas of southern California. For a cool-season option that can be used throughout the entire state of California, sheep fescue ...
TIFTUF
lawndelivery.com › blogs › news › the-top-5-drought-tolerant-lawns-for-california
California's Top 5 Drought-Tolerant Lawns – Sod and Seed, Inc.
Join us at Sod and Seed, Inc. to explore California's Top 5 Drought-Tolerant Lawns! We'll discuss our mulch ground cover, frog fruit ground cover, native bentgrass, RTF sod and TIFTUF hybrid bermuda grass sod.
Wiki Lawn
wikilawn.com › lawn-care › ca › best-drought-tolerant-grass-types-southern-california
6 Best Drought-Tolerant Grass Types for Southern California | Wikilawn
Other varieties can also do well in Southern California, though they may be less drought tolerant. Buffalograss is available in seed, sod, and plug form, while the UC Verde cultivar is only available as plugs. Buffalograss is low maintenance, requiring little mowing, fertilization, and irrigation.
Quora
quora.com › Whats-a-good-drought-resistant-grass-alternative-in-the-SF-Bay-Area
What's a good drought resistant grass alternative in the SF Bay Area? - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): Dichondra, mondo and buffalo grass fit the bill. All require water to become established. Dichondra. Mondo grass (UC Verde) Buffalo grass*
Armstrong Garden Centers
armstronggarden.com › garden-guides › lawn-alternative
Lawn Alternatives | Armstrong Garden Centers
Large blue-green, succulent leaves with upright stems perfect as a drought-tolerant, colorful lawn alternative. ... A fast-growing herbal lawn alternative. The fragrant foliage can be used when cooking meat, veggies and even drinks. ... A fragrant, edible groundcover with blue-green foliage that spreads quickly once established. ... Want the look of grass with no maintenance & no watering?
Call 6269141091
Address 2200 E. Route 66, Suite 200 Glendora, CA 91740
LawnLove
lawnlove.com › home › drought-tolerant and drought-resistant grass alternatives
Drought-Tolerant and Drought-Resistant Grass Alternatives
November 21, 2023 - ... UC Verde is a top pick for drought-prone areas. It’s a slow-grower that thrives in California heat and grows in USDA zones 7 to 10. ... For a low-maintenance, plant-filled lawn, ground covers give you the best of grass without the hassle ...
SodLawn
sodlawn.com › home › the best drought-tolerant sod varieties for southern california lawns
Best Drought Tolerant Sod for Southern California
July 9, 2025 - Proper watering, mowing, aeration, and overseeding help drought-tolerant lawns remain healthy in changing conditions. TifTuf Bermuda is a warm-season grass built for Southern California’s dry summers and full sun exposure.
Scotts
scotts.com › en-us › seasonal-tips › even-in-drought-california-landscapes-can-thrive.html
Even in Drought, California Landscapes Can Thrive
For examples, I like Zoysia grass for excellent heat, drought and cold tolerance. I recommend as well Bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, Centipedegrass, Buffalo Grass and seashore Paspalum. We offer a heat-tolerant Thermal Blue Kentucky Bluegrass, which stays green even in heat and drought.
Los Angeles Times
latimes.com › lifestyle › story › 2024-01-30 › low-water-drought-tolerant-alternatives-to-turf-lawns
4 low-water turf alternatives that are California native grasses - Los Angeles Times
February 5, 2024 - The fescues are probably the least drought-tolerant of the native grasses, and incompatible with pets. “It kills patches of the lawn if a dog pees on it,” he said. ... Here are the best retail native plant nurseries in Southern California to help you create a habitat for birds and pollinators in your yard or even on a patio.
Hydroseeding
hydroseedingsocal.com › home › drought tolerant turf options –…
Drought Tolerant Turf Options - California
November 28, 2019 - DROUGHT BUSTER PLUS Turf-Type Tall Fescue Plus Self-Repairing Bluegrass Tall Fescue blend with self-repairing bluegrass that sends rhizomes beneath the surface to fill in gaps. This seed blend makes a super tough turf that can withstand pets, high traffic, and insects.
Around the Yard
aroundtheyard.com › forums2 › viewtopic.php
Best grass for drought in SF Valley - aroundtheyard.com Forums
So I patched the bald spots in October with Scotts Drought Tolerant Sunny mix in one spot, and with Pearl's Premium in another. The Scotts did quite well, while the Pearl's died in the first week of heat. It is now the end of August and I'm considering what to use next. One neighbor said to use Marathon, so I have just now began patching one spot with Marathon 2 to see how it goes. Yes I have random patches with different grasses but at this point I'm just trying the different varieties out to see what will work and what I like.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/lawncare › what kind of grass can i grow in hot and dry zone 9b california?
r/lawncare on Reddit: What kind of grass can I grow in hot and dry Zone 9B California?
July 8, 2024 -
We live in Pittsburgh, California. I want to grow grass back here for my kids to play in. Right now it’s a bunch of foxtail weeds. What is a good grass seed I can plant back here that is drought tolerant, can withstand a lot of trampling, and requires minimal care (after initial installation)?
Top answer 1 of 18
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Bermuda is the best for drought and foot traffic tolerance as long as it gets full sun. I certainly wouldn’t call it low maintenance though. It does best with a low (less than 2”) cut which requires frequent mowing. St. Augustine would be another good choice for drought tolerance but is much less tolerant of foot traffic. It prefers a taller cut around 4”. It does better with frequent mowing but would be more forgiving than Bermuda as far as infrequent cuts. I’d avoid fescue or any cool season grasses unless you’re able to water pretty much daily during the summer. There is Bermuda seed available but you can get better varieties if you go with sod. St. Augustine does not produce viable seeds and is only available as sod. Any grass you go with is going to require at least weekly irrigation.
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I live in zone 8b. High desert of Southern California. We are in 105-110 degree heat wave this week. I have tall fescue. I water everyday for about 5-10 min. And then I water 3 more times throughout the day about 2-3 minutes depending how hot it is that week. In the winter time, I cut it down to once a week for a deep watering about 20 min.