There is increasing attention towards the perceived high water use by turfgrasses in landscapes and especially on golf courses. Evaluation of turf alternative low input nativegrasses and multipurpose groundcover for landscaping needs of the arid southwest were initiated in 2019 in Litchfield Park, AZ. Two varieties of kurapia (Lippia nodiflora L.) were highly performed in establishment and area coverage and remained green throughout the year under optimum overhead sprinkler irrigation. The white flower variety tended to spread more to cover the 110 square feet plot compared to the more dense and compact pink flower variety. Once established, kurapia can be successfully grown and maintained as a turf alternative groundcover in desert southwest under low drip irrigation usage at 40% reference Evapotranspiration (ETo) versus bermudagrass. Nine out of ten species of nativegrasses emerged and established a stand to cover the plot area ranging from 15% to 87% within 20 weeks. Four out of nine nativegrasses species remained green under natural conditions throughout the year.

Our present research in low desert Arizona revealed that once established, kurapia's water requirement can be maintained aesthetically acceptable at 40% reference evapotranspiration (ETo) by drip irrigation. Also identified nine nativegrasses that can be grown under arid natural conditions performing at varying levels for establishment, providing surface area coverage, and overall plant quality. Our four years of research identified five potential turf alternative nativegrasses and a new multipurpose groundcover for establishment and adaptation under low input conditions that remained green and attractive throughout the year. Positive impacts of the project are that two local sod producers have begun commercial plantings and have initiated sales and installations of Kurapia in Arizona resulting in new or enhanced business opportunities for sod producers and suppliers to provide new plant materials. Some homes and gardens already replaced the existing turf grass with Kurapia after observing the experimental test plots.