After a spectacular re-seeding failure of Agrostis pallens and red fescue/Idaho fescue mix this past winter, I've been mulling over my strategy for this coming winter.
I'm in San Diego and my backyard gets about 6+ hours of direct sun. I have a dwarf lemon tree and an Englemann oak planted last fall (it's doing well!). In a few years that oak will provide some shade, but until then it is hot back there. I'm new to southern California, so I definitely underestimated the intensity of the sun when I planted Agrostis pallens sod a couple years ago. That was also not a huge success but I learned a lot.
Anyway, I was on Native Seed looking at their California no mow fescue mix as I would love to create a native prairie like look that is drought tolerant, low water needs, but still feels good for my sweet dog. However, their recommendation for Southern California mentioned a warm season Prairie grass variety called Sundancer buffalo grass.
The conditions required for it seem to really match my San Diego micro-climate and it looks lovely un-mowed. I guess I'm a bit bummed it's not really a California native, but it is a native southwest prairie grass. After some searching I see there is a California variety called UC Verde that has been developed but you have to plant plugs, which seems like a hassle.
I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with sundancer buffalo grass or just buffalo grass in general in Southern California. I would also gladly take any advice 😅. Thanks everyone!