What are you using for a list of grasses native to Long Island? I ask because it's a subject I'm trying to research, and I'm not having much luck on the web.

There's a relatively new project in Suffolk County, called the Long Island Native Grass Initiative, which has a goal of developing it's own source of seed for locally native grasses. I've just sent an email to the lady who is heading it up. She's a soil scientist for the Parks Dept.

So far, this is my list of grasses I'm fairly sure are LI natives:

Agrostis alba - Redtop
Andropogon gerardii - Big Bluestem
Andropogon virginicus - Broomsedge
Carex pensylvanica - Pennsylvania Sedge
Chasmanthium laxum - Slender Spikegrass
Deschampsia flexuosa - Crinkled Hairgrass
Eragrostis spectabilis - Purple Lovegrass
Festuca glauca - Blue Fescue (many varieties and synonyms)
Festuca ovina var. duriuscula - Hard Fescue
Festuca rubra - Red Fescue
Juncus greenei - Greene's rush
Panicum virgatum - Switchgrass
Schizachyrium scoparium - Little Bluestem
Sorghastrum nutans - Indiangrass
Spartina - several varieties

There are likely many more.

I would think the hempstead plains or what is left of it may be a source of native grass, not that they would let you dig it up but for names of plants. I really wasn't looking for anything specific. I just wanted some ornamental grass to put on my sandy hill.
Lovelycherry