Palm Grass - how does it fare in S. California?

I really love how this stuff looks, and seems like a beautiful 'under the swaying palms' type of plant. Does anyone have experience with it in Southern California. My USDA zone is 9b while my Sunset zone is 21. I saw this in a book on tropicals, but it seems it is not too common here - more so in Florida.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/71106/
This message was edited Nov 1, 2008 9:17 AM
Added link to post.

This message was edited Nov 1, 2008 9:19 AM

It's very attractive, should grow really easily where you are, but it self-sows rather enthusiastically, so you may be doing some regular plucking of wanderers after it's established. It's a nice deep green, and the longitudinal grooves in the leaves are really handsome.

I actually want it to spread, so a few volunteers would be welcome. How thirsty is it?

It likes fairly regular water. The leaf blade is kind of wide, so running the plant dry can make the blades cup under just a bit and show a line of browning along the edges, which detracts from the lush, deep green look this grass has when watered regularly. I've found it recovers pretty well from being periodically underwatered, but looks best with regular water. Regular water will also get it to flower better, so if you're looking for it to make seeds to spread about, you're probably better off not treating it as low-water.

Jungleman,

Sunset's National Gardening book says Zones 14-27, that would be you. I am in Zone 26 and I have it here. It is not bad at spreading too far or too fast and small plants are easy to pull in our sandy soil.

It is drought tolerant when grown in the shade. We have months where we recieve little or no rain and it looks good year around.

Thanks so much for the input. I put in an order with Onalee's, here through DG!

Just to mention the obvious, "drought tolerant" in Tampa, Florida, average rainfall around 45", is very different from "drought tolerant" in Pasadena, California, average rainfall around 15". But the plant will show you if it's happy, just something to consider when siting it.

I live in Altadena, very close to you, and have had a lot of success with this plant. I water it like I do most my plants, no more no less. I do cut it back to the ground each winter (when it seeds) and then it grows back nice and lush by mid Spring. If you want some I have a lot of those little self-starters through out my plant beds. Let me know.

Lonny

Lonny - Thanks so much for your generosity! I just got my plant through Onalee's today, so it is currently nursing in its gallon pot. From what I understand, I will only need to plant this one out once it is situated in its soil, in order to have my own little Palm Grass hatchery! Thanks for the offer.

Unfortunately, All I have to offer is a lot of Bermuda grass! I just moved to the neighborhood. :)
Jeff

Jungleman,

I must say that you're a bad influence! When I read this thread, last week, I decided this grass would be perfect to try against a wall in my garden, newly planted with ornamental grasses & other (easy care) perennials. So, off to Onalee's, where I ordered this (& a few other things) this weekend. If I read her description correctly, the clump is 5-7 plants, I plan to divide my clump immediately. The plants arrived yesterday!!!

Liz