Deer grass is a native, warm-season perennial bunchgrass that grows 3 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. It blooms from June to September with long, slender flower stems held above the foliage. Deer grass requires full sun, tolerates a wide range of soil types and moisture levels, and is low maintenance. It is an attractive accent or mass planting for gardens, providing habitat for butterflies, birds, and deer.

1. Deer Grass – Muhlenbergia rigens
(mull-en-BERGE-ee-uh RIG-ens)
Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
CA (coast and foothills) to Texas and northern Mexico.
bottoms, grassland openings in forests, chaparral.
Native to:
Occurs in canyons, stream
perennial bunchgrass
mature height: 3 ft
Warm-season perennial bunchgrass. Evergreen with long, narrow leaves.
Growth characteristics:
mature width: 3-4 ft
Blooms/fruits: Flowers born on long, slender stems above the foliage from June-Sept.
Uses in the garden: Showy accent/specimen plant, background, mass plantings. Good substitute
for Pampas Grass and Fountain Grass. Useful for dry slopes (stabilizer), streambanks, along
driveways or other narrow spaces, xeriscape (low-water) and desert gardens, around pools. Pet safe
grass. Provides a nice vertical element in mixed landscapes.
Sensible substitute for: non-native medium sized ornamental bunchgrasses.
butterflies and ladybugs; provides nesting site, nesting materials and cover for birds.
Forage for deer.
Attracts:
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun (including very hot) to partial shade
Not particular. Very tolerant of wide range of soil textures, pH.
Once established 1-2 times/month to keep green. Tolerates summer drought (will
become dormant and slightly brown) or regular watering
low
Best in well-drained soils
Management: low maintenance.
Shear (cut back) every few years to reduce accumulated dead
material and increase vigor. Shearing should be done in Fall/winter after seed is shed and plant is
dormant.
Propagation: from seed: collect seed in fall by bundling flower stalks and beating over bucket or
tarp. Direct seed, late spring/summer, and keep soil moist. Germination: 14-60 days. Can also
grown in flats, pots.
By divisions: divide in winter, taking divisions from outer edge. Pot up
divisions and grow until next fall/winter, when they can be planted out.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1-5, 9-14, 16, 20, 21, 24-28
2/10/11
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