A LITTLE MORE LIFE
Pili grass
Heteropogon contortus
Native bunches add texture and ground cover to dry, sunny Hawaiian gardens.
MAKE IT FEEL AT HOME
A spot to thrive.
Select a local form; established plants tolerate dryness but stay greener with some water.
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil moisture
- Dry soil
- Mature size
- Under 1 to over 2½ ft tall · 2–5 ft wide
- Season of interest
- Year-round grass texture
- Local climate
- Choose by island, elevation, and rainfall.
- Garden role
- A grass for dry borders
ONE GOOD SWAP
Instead of maiden grass.
Miscanthus sinensis
Try pili grass for a grass for dry borders.
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Photo credits & licenses
Pili grass: Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia · CC BY 2.0
Maiden grass: Jim Janke · CC BY 4.0
Resized, converted to WebP, and cropped in the layout. Each photo retains its listed license. All photo credits