Buffelgrass

Buffelgrass was introduced to the United States in the 1930s as livestock forage. The grass’s rapid growth is dense and crowds out native plants of similar size. It quickly dominates moist areas, resulting in weakening and killing larger desert plants. Dense roots and ground shading prevent germination of competing seeds. It can kill most native plants by these means alone.  It has been identified as the most troublesome weed in Big Bend National Park. It was first introduced in San Antonio in the mid-1940s, and by the mid-1970s, it covered 90% of the seeded rangeland south of San Antonio.  It is considered by some to be simultaneously the most important forage grass in South Texas and an invasive and troublesome weed displacing native species. Buffelgrass is considered the archenemy of the Sonoran Desert– the invasive grass most likely to cause significant damage to the native ecosystem, including the Giant Saguaro Cactus.

Buffelgrass alters the fire regime and creates a fire hazard for infrastructure, animals and people. In desert areas unused to ground fires, it causes a high volume of dry plant matter to accumulate, which can fuel intense fires. Resilience to fire enables buffelgrass to survive and quickly produce new growth after burning, providing fuel for more fires.

You may not want or need to replace this invasive plant, but if you do, options are listed below.