I had a CA bent grass sod lawn installed one year ago. La Mesa, sort of inland San Diego. I'm pretty sure it is dead now, but hoping it "comes out of dormancy". With subsurface drip and a lot of rain, it did great. Got established, grew like crazy, was soft and beautiful, and I loved it. As the heat picked up to the 90s in July, I couldn't keep it green. Just kept getting more brown with increased watering. Since it is a cool season lawn, and I know how other natives don't want water during summer dormancy, I quit watering. Now that it is cooling down, I am putting the water back on. There are bits of green showing up, but I don't have much hope that it will return to its previous glory. I think there is a reason we don't see many bent grass lawns in SoCal. I'm looking into a fescue blend or buffalo grass if the bent grass doesn't pan out. Hopefully some other people have experiences to share. The internet has lots of pics of new installs, not many established lawns. Answer from scrotalus on reddit.com
California Wild Gardens
calwildgardens.com › products › california-native-sod
Native Bentgrass - Agrostis Pallens Lawn Sod
Native Bentgrass - Agrostis Pallens Lawn Sod
Native Bentgrass Lawn Sod
Agrostis pallens, San Diego Bentgrass, Thingrass, California bentgrass etc. FULL SUN - PART SHADE
Agrostis pallens is a true California Native Grass. Bentgrass occurs naturally in almost all densely inhabited areas of the state. That doesn't mean it grows like a weed - it still needs a little help to get started, especially where soil conditions are not ideal. It stays green most of the year with some exceptions.* Experiencing golden patches in summer or in hot climates with heat waves.
This native meadow grass works great for regularly mowed areas or those you want
Price $3.59
Reddit
reddit.com › r/ceanothus › anyone have firsthand experience with a native bentgrass lawn, or other native lawn option?
r/Ceanothus on Reddit: Anyone have firsthand experience with a Native Bentgrass lawn, or other native lawn option?
November 22, 2020 -
I'm in the IE (Redlands) and am especially curious if anyone has had success with it here. Everything I'm reading online sounds great, but I would love more insight on it before committing.
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I had a CA bent grass sod lawn installed one year ago. La Mesa, sort of inland San Diego. I'm pretty sure it is dead now, but hoping it "comes out of dormancy". With subsurface drip and a lot of rain, it did great. Got established, grew like crazy, was soft and beautiful, and I loved it. As the heat picked up to the 90s in July, I couldn't keep it green. Just kept getting more brown with increased watering. Since it is a cool season lawn, and I know how other natives don't want water during summer dormancy, I quit watering. Now that it is cooling down, I am putting the water back on. There are bits of green showing up, but I don't have much hope that it will return to its previous glory. I think there is a reason we don't see many bent grass lawns in SoCal. I'm looking into a fescue blend or buffalo grass if the bent grass doesn't pan out. Hopefully some other people have experiences to share. The internet has lots of pics of new installs, not many established lawns.
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I went a different route for my small lawn in Central LA - Yarrow. Easily mowed, can handle decent traffic, thrives in the summer with low water. Maintenance is just cutting the flower stalks because they’ll get woody. Yarrow feels so wonderful and plush on bare feet.
Videos
04:03
Drought Tolerant Lawn - Native California Bentgrass - Video Update ...
00:16
Native bentgrass - YouTube
05:05
California Native No Mow Lawn | Sara Bendrick - YouTube
California Native No Mow Lawn | Sara Bendrick
03:43
California native grass in San Diego - YouTube
Watch the incredible crew at @deltabluegrassco installing ...
West Coast Turf
westcoastturf.com › West-Coast-Native-Bentgrass
Arizona Sod - West Coast Native Bentgrass Sod-Agrostis pallets
West Coast Native Bentgrass (Agrostis pallens) is a cool-season bent grass. It can be mowed or left to flop, creating the look of a natural, informal meadow. When left in its natural state, it can require half the water of customary turf half the mowing and maintenance, and will be a medium ...
Stover Seed
shop.stoverseed.com › products › thingrass-seashore-bentgrass
Thingrass / Seashore Bentgrass - Stover Seed since 1922
Thingrass / Seashore Bentgrass (Agrostis pallens)
Common Name(s):
Thingrass, Seashore Bentgrass
Botanical Name:
Agrostis pallens
Description:
Thingrass, Seashore BentgrassA popular native grass that can also be used as a lawn substitute. Exhibits a deep green color with a fine leaf texture that can either be mowed or left unmowed for a more naturalized meadow look. Can be combined with other plants or used in rock gardens. Also for use under trees or shrubs.
Seeds per pound:
2,300,000
Seeding rate per pound₁:
200 sq. ft.
% Purity / % Germination (Typical)
98 / 80
Growing Regions:
All climates throughout the western U.
Price $7.69
Sodlawn
app.sodlawn.com › sods › native-bentgrass › 25
SodLawn:Native Bentgrass
© 2025 Sodlawn All Rights Reserved
Nature's Seed
naturesseed.com › products › grass-seed › thingrass
Thingrass Seed - California Bentgrass (Agrostis Pallens) aka Seashore Bentgrass
July 4, 2025 - Thingrass is the trade name for Agrostis pallens, also known as native California bentgrass or seashore bentgrass. It’s a perennial grass native to the Western U.S. that looks and feels like a fine-bladed lawn grass.
Northwest Meadowscapes
northwestmeadowscapes.com › collections › all products › seashore bentgrass seeds (agrostis pallens)
Seashore Bentgrass Seeds (Agrostis pallens) — Northwest Meadowscapes
Seashore Bentgrass Seeds (Agrostis pallens)
Possibly THE BEST native turf grass in North America – one that can be left in long and swaying, or closely mowed like a manicured lawn.
Native from western Canada south to Mexico, seashore bentgrass is a lush, soft, deep-green species that prefers moderate temperatures. Yet it is resilient enough to withstand dry seasonal conditions, freezing, and more.
As the name suggests, this plant thrives in damp, coastal regions, however it does also occur across a number of inland states as well. The locations where this grass is not well suited are hot, humid climates and deserts.
With exceptionally s
Price $8.75
Calscape
calscape.org › Agrostis-pallens-(Thingrass)
Thingrass
Thingrass (Agrostis pallens) is a perennial grass that makes an eco-friendly lawn alternative, requiring half the water of non-native grasses. Its deep green color lasts year-round with weekly summer watering, and it tolerates light foot traffic.
TIFTUF
lawndelivery.com › products › native-bentgrass
California Native Bentgrass – Sod and Seed, Inc.
Native Bentgrass or Agrostis pallens is an excellent choice for various reasons. Its texture is a medium-sized leaf with a dark green color. It thrives in full sun and can tolerate partial shade.
Deltabluegrass
deltabluegrass.com › home › sod products › california native sod™
California Native Sod™ - Delta Bluegrass Company
December 10, 2024 - The industry’s 1st choice for native lawn areas. It requires consistent mowing at 11/2” to 2” resulting in the appearance of a traditional lawn.
SiteOne
siteone.com › all products › nursery › sod › cool season sod
Bentgrass Sod Native Bentgrass (per sq. ft.) | SiteOne US
Bentgrass Sod Native Bentgrass (per sq. ft.)
The Agrostis Bentgrass is a versatile and high-quality landscaping solution. With its unbranded design, it seamlessly blends into any outdoor space, providing a natural and cohesive look. This premium grass is perfect for a variety of uses, including golf courses, sports fields, and residential lawns. Its dense and lush texture creates a soft and inviting surface, ideal for both play and relaxation. The Agrostis Bentgrass is known for its durability and resilience, ensuring long-lasting beauty and performance. Transform your landscape into a stunning oasis with this exceptional grass variety.
Price $3.40
Calscape
calscape.org › Agrostis-densiflora-(California-Bent-Grass)
California Bent Grass
Agrostis densiflora is a species of grass known by the common name California bent grass. It is endemic to the coast of northern and central California, where it grows in habitat along the immediate coastline, such as dunes and bluffs.
Santabarbaragardens
santabarbaragardens.com › home › blog › a new lawn alternative: california native sod
A New Lawn Alternative: California Native Sod - Santa Barbara Garden Design - Joan S Bolton
September 7, 2021 - This new native sod, Agrostis pallens, has fabulous potential. It’s a cool-season bentgrass, a rich, deep green, and it withstands foot traffic. It requires half the water of traditional turf and half the mowing and maintenance.
Deltabluegrass
deltabluegrass.com › wp-content › uploads › 2021 › 09 › mowing-native-bentgrass.pdf pdf
NATIVE BENTGRASS™
Delta Bluegrass offers Premium California Sod varieties that produce low maintenance lawns and turfs for homeowners and industry professionals.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
sbbotanicgarden.org › insight › native-lawn-research-hoovers-bentgrass
Adding to California’s Native Lawn Lineup - Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
April 3, 2025 - To begin to chip away at this problem, ... species of California native grass, new to cultivation Hoover’s bentgrass (Agrostis hooveri)....
TIFTUF
lawndelivery.com › blogs › news › the-best-sod-for-southern-california-is-back
The Best Sod for Southern California is Back, Native Bentgrass! – Sod and Seed, Inc.
March 20, 2024 - Hello everyone, welcome to Sod and Seed, Inc., your go-to company for the best sod in Southern California! One of our 2023 Best-Sellers, the Native Bentgrass (Agrostis pallens), is back ins stock and ready for delivery! Call us at 1-800-381-8163 for a free quote and to find out the soonest availability in your area.
Houzz
houzz.com › discussions › 4710687 › california-native-bentgrass-or-fine-leafed-fescue-no-mow-sod
California native bentgrass or fine-leafed Fescue no-mow sod?
These are very fine bladed grasses which fall over when they get about 5 inches long. If you pick bentgrass it will be invasive to an extent. If the underground runners can reach sunlight, they will seem to jump many feet to establish in other ...
East Bay Nursery
eastbaynursery.com › sod-ordering › p › native-bent-grass
Native Bentgrass — East Bay Nursery
Download More Info Here: Native Bent Grass Fact Sheet
Reddit
reddit.com › r/ceanothus › comparable lawn alternatives? native grasses?
r/Ceanothus on Reddit: comparable lawn alternatives? native grasses?
January 24, 2021 -
my mom's backyard has a lawn and her dogs love to roll and romp in the grass
are there any comparable native California grasses that would still be soft and nice for the dogs to roll in and enjoy?
She definitely wants that feel to it that she could still lay out a towel and picnic in her backyard with her pups.
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There are several options, depending on where you are. . The Delta Bluegrass website is a good place to start. Lots of great fescue choices. They have a natural meadow look. Don't mow it, very soft, not good for soccer games. I planted 500 sq ft of CA bentgrass sod, Agrostis pallens, a couple years ago, because my wife (not raised in California) has fantasies of a nice manicured lawn. Inland San Diego is too hot for that species and it died. It also required more mowing than I am willing to do. But it was beautiful while it lasted. Kurapia is not a grass, and only partially a native, but it makes a tough "lawn". I will be replacing my dead bentgrass with UC Verde Buffalograss in a few weeks. Not native, but it thrives on heat and uses very little water, and doesn't have to be mowed. People seem to like it a lot. Google those /check Instagram hashtags, and see what you think. I would rather go to a park and sit on a lawn that someone else took care of though.
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I've seen Turkey Tangle Fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) used. It flowers and can be walked on a bit IIRC.