Purple Three-awn is a perennial bunchgrass native to dry areas in southern California, Texas, and northern Mexico. It grows 1-2 feet tall with fine, blue-green leaves that turn purple in summer drought. In spring and summer it produces showy, nodding purple seed heads. Purple Three-awn is often used as an ornamental grass in drought-tolerant gardens due to its neat foliage and colorful blooms. It requires full sun and low water once established, making it a good choice for erosion control on slopes.