Garden information for Stipa lepida (formerly Nassella lepida)

1. Foothill Needlegrass – Stipa lepida (STYE=puh LEP-ih-duh)
Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
Native to: California & Baja CA; Dry slopes and disturbed areas in grasslands, Coastal Sage Scrub,
Chaparral and Oak Woodlands.
Growth characteristics: 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.
Blooms/fruits: insignificant blooms in summer. Seeds have long, attractive bristles (“needles”).
Uses in the garden: Wonderful accent plants, in mid-beds or as borders – very graceful grass even
when dry. For erosion control on slopes and banks; for dry gardens. Most showy when planted in
masses. Excellent choice for native prairie plantings with annual wildflowers & other native grasses.
Sensible substitute for: non-native ornamental bunching grasses like Mexican Feather Grass.
Attracts: birds, small mammals (nest; shelter; seeds); larger mammals (food); butterflies (larval food).
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to partial shade
Soil Prefer sandy, but very tolerant
Water Drought resistant; best with no summer water
Fertilizer Low requirement
Other 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 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, 11, 13, 14, 16, 20, 24, 28 12/11/10
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