Sea of Fountain Grass by Steve Jones
Replace it with beautiful native grass
By Barb Pringle, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy steward
Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), a native of North Africa, was imported into Arizona as an ornamental landscape plant. Once introduced, it rapidly escaped yards and common areas to spread across the natural landscape, including into Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Sadly, this greatly increases the danger of a catastrophic wildfire because this grass, as well as another invasive grass known as buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare), are highly flammable. Both grasses dramatically increase the fuel load for fire consumption, compared to native plant communities.
In addition to the fire hazard, fountain grass and buffelgrass crowd out our Sonoran Desert native plants, reducing biodiversity so critical to wildlife habitat and food supply. These grasses also compete with native species for water, making it harder for them to survive and thrive.
For direct evidence of fountain grass invasiveness, hike the 136th St trail in the south area of the Preserve. As you trek deeper into the wash, you’ll see an increasing prevalence of fountain grass, with some areas so infested that other plants are hard to spot. In fact, recent surveys by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Field Institute show that over 60 acres of the Preserve are dominated by these invasive grasses.
Today, many groups are working to reduce the presence of fountain grass, including the Scottsdale Fire Department, the Department of Forestry and Fire Management, The City of Scottsdale, and the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, a volunteer group that helps manage Scottsdale’s Preserve.
You can help too! Despite the fact that these plants may be prohibited by your HOA, many have appeared in yards across Scottsdale because of their prolific seed production and ease of spreading via wind, tires, and sneakers. To help combat this problem, the Conservancy recently initiated a program whereby residents could trade in fountain grass from their yard for a native grass plant. Participants can dig out the fountain grass (including the root system), take a photo of the removed plant, and safely dispose of it. They can bring the photo to one of three participating Scottsdale libraries to receive an attractive native grass (purple three awn, Aristida purpurea), as a better replacement (dates and times listed below). This grass is available at many local nurseries, and it would be a great choice for your yard, too.
When and Where:
Saturday, March 16, 11 am – 2 pm,
Arabian library (10215 E McDowell
Mountain Ranch Rd, Scottsdale,
AZ 85255)
Sunday March 31, 1-4 pm,
Mustang Library (10101 N 90th St,
Scottsdale, AZ 85258)
March 11-29 (Mon-Fri only),
9 am – 5 pm, McDowell Sonoran
Conservancy office
(7729 E Greenway Rd, Ste 100,
Scottsdale, AZ 85260)
If you would like more information on removing and replacing your invasive fountain grass and/or buffelgrass, please contact the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy at 480-998-7971, or check its website, www.mcdowellsonoran.org.
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