Grasses

Blog Posts

Growing inspiration: mocha mousse hues in the garden image is dormant switchgrass with a blue sky background
Growing inspiration: mocha mousse hues in the garden
Each year, a variety of establishments attempt to make news by predicting annual garden trends. I’m conflicted over these reports because, on the one...
Purple Lovegrass in a native bed
Grasses: Beyond the Lawn
Grasses are an often-underappreciated component of landscaping.  They don’t have the showy flowers of many forbs and are thus overlooked. ...
field of little bluestem
Little Bluestem, a showstopper in fall
Fall is here, and while some days feel much more fall-like than others, you can’t deny that trees are putting on their fall colors, herbaceous plants...
hand holding flowering part of a grass
How to differentiate between native and non-native plume grasses
A few years ago I began to notice a very tall, stately grass growing on the roadsides on my daily commute. I only seemed to find it growing in...
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News Releases

A woman stands in a grassy field holding a long blade of grass
Can one person make a difference on environmental issues?
Global environmental issues like habitat loss and pollution can feel overwhelming. Can one person’s actions make a difference? Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator Erin Garrett believes so. Garrett provides...
Erin Garret standing next to little bluestem in a garden
Grasses at a Glance blog earns award from national Extension organization
URBANA, Ill. — Grasses are a small and often subtle backbone of many ecosystems, making up nearly 30% of the planet’s land cover. They prevent soil erosion, regulate water flow, and provide food and habitat for wildlife and livestock. But ask someone to identify one grass from another, and you...

Videos

Native grasses and pollinators

Native grasses are often overlooked when it comes to pollinators, but they can play a crucial role in supporting many different types of pollinators. Discover how native grasses provide nesting and overwintering habitats, serve as larval food sources, offer pollen, and much more!

Native Grasses in the Prairie and Your Yard

Explore native grasses and how to use them in our landscapes. Dive into how these grasses function in a prairie and how that translates to your yard, and get suggestions for what native grasses might work best to transform your landscape!

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Staff

Staff photo Shiba Kar

Shiba 'Shibu' Kar

Assistant Dean: Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Program Leader. Associate Director of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

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