Purple Needlegrass is a graceful, bunching perennial grass native to California and Baja California. It grows 1-3 feet tall with arching leaves and flower stalks. The seeds and stems are red-purple or light purple. It blooms insignificantly in summer but produces attractive bristled seeds. Purple Needlegrass is drought tolerant and thrives in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. It requires little water or fertilizer once established and is a lovely accent plant that also provides erosion control and attracts birds and butterflies.

1. Purple Needlegrass – Nassella pulchra
(nah-SELL-uh PULL-kruh)
Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
Native to: California & Baja CA; Dry slopes and disturbed areas in grasslands, Coastal Sage Scrub,
Chaparral and Oak Woodlands
Cool-season bunch grass
mature height: 1-3 ft
mature width: 1-3 ft
Graceful perennial bunchgrasses with arching leaves and flower stalks. Stalks arch over leaves. Seeds
and stems of Purple Needlegrass are red-purple and of cernua (Nodding) are light purple. Graceful
and showy plants.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms/fruits: insignificant blooms in summer. Seeds have long, attractive bristles (“needles”) which
are sharp and can stick in dogs ears..
Uses in the garden: Lovely accent plants; in mid-beds or as borders. Useful for erosion control on
slopes and banks. Good in dry gardens, where they turn golden-brown in summer & fall. Most showy
when planted in masses. Combine with other local native grasses & annuals for a southern coastal
prairie garden.
Sensible substitute for: non-native ornamental bunching grasses.
Attracts: birds, small mammals (nest; shelter; seeds); larger mammals (food); butterflies (larval food).
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
Prefer sandy, but very tolerant
Drought resistant; best with no summer water
Low requirement
Deep, well-drained soils for best performance; do not tolerate alkaline or salty soils
Management: little water needed (if any); keep area weeded until established. Can be mowed (high)
or sheared to 4-6 inches in fall. Reseeds readily on bare ground.
Propagation: from seed: collect dry seeds spring/summer. Plant in soil or pots in summer/fall.
By divisions: in winter (Dec-Mar); fairly easy.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers) : 1-3, 5, 8, 10-14, 16, 17, 19-21, 28
12/19/10
© Project SOUND