Type: Perennial bunchgrass
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low; very drought tolerant once established
Height: 18–36" tall (occasionally up to 4' with flowering stems)
Spread: 12–24" (forms a clumping bunch rather than spreading by rhizomes)
Spacing: 18–24" apart
Bloom Time: May–July (late spring to early summer)
Bloom Description: Narrow, upright seed spikes 3–8" long with alternating spikelets and slender awns that give the seed heads a soft, feathery appearance; flowers are greenish when emerging and mature to straw-gold by mid-summer.
Maintenance: Low; cut back old foliage in early spring if desired. Plants establish best in lean soils and generally require little care once established. May self-seed in suitable sites.
Soil Drainage: Prefers well-drained soils; tolerates a wide range of soil textures including sandy, rocky, or loamy soils but performs best in dry, well-drained conditions.
Wildlife Value: Important forage and habitat plant for wildlife including deer, elk, and small mammals; seeds and foliage provide food, while clumps offer cover. Also supports native grassland ecosystems and helps stabilize soil with deep roots.
Garden Use: Excellent for native meadows, prairie gardens, erosion control, and restoration plantings. Its blue-green foliage and graceful seed heads add movement and texture to naturalistic landscapes and pair well with western native wildflowers.