Researchers at UC Davis and UC Riverside have shown that a buffalograss cultivar can make a thick, green, drought-tolerant lawn for California's hot dry summers. We have partnered with Florasource, Ltd. to bring this alternative turfgrass option to the public.
Home Landscape Use
‘UC Verde’® buffalograss may be mowed as a lawn or left long for a landscape meadow. Unlike other lawns, this grass only requires weekly watering during the warm season to maintain its appearance. Its slow growth means mowing is required once every two to three weeks for lawns or once a year for a meadow, to invigorate growth. Environmental and health benefits of planting ‘UC Verde’ ® can be found here.
Public Landscape Use
SmartLandscape at UC Davis has integrated UC Verde buffalograss into their landscape as part of their turf and turf alternative demonstration plots. Typical warm weather turf fill-in takes place in a matter of weeks.
SmartLandscape at UC Davis- UC Verde Buffalograss 2023 Water Use Data
Below, readers can find the 2023 water use data and key findings for UC Verde Buffalograss at SmartLandscape. Plot 3 showcases Eco-Mat sub-surface irrigation and Plot 4 uses MP Rotator surface irrigation. In addition to calculating the ETWU and MAWA for each plot, SmartLandscape records the actual applied water, as seen in the graphs below.
Key Findings- Plot 3
