Nassella pulchra
From California Natives Wiki
Species Name: Nassella pulchra
Common Name: Purple-Needlegrass
- A Southern California native bunchgrass that is both showy (purple seed heads) and tough (deep roots). Recommended for dry, hot areas and clay soils. The official state grass of California.
- Plant Family: Poaceae
- Plant Type: Grass (cool season)
- Height by Width: 1-3' H x 2' W
- Growth Habit: Bunchgrass
- Deciduous/Evergreen: Summer dormant
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Sun Exposure: Full to part sun
- Soil Preference: Adaptable
- Water Requirements: Drought-tolerant to moderate
- Cold Hardy to: 25 degrees F
- Flower Season: Spring
- Flower Color: Seedhead
- Endangered?: Not listed
- Distribution: Northwest, north and central foothills of the Sierra Nevada, southern Sacramento Valley, Central West, South Coast, Channel Islands, western Transverse Range, Western Peninsular Range, Baja
- Natural Habitat: Oak woodland, chaparral, grassland below 4100'
- Care and Maintenance
- History
- Other Names
- References
- Bornstein, Carol, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien. California Native Plants for the Garden. Los Olivos, CA: Cachuma Press. 2005.
- Harlow, Nora and Kristin Jakob. Wild Lilies, Irises, and Grasses: Gardening with California Monocots. Berkely and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press. 2003.
- Links
