Deergrass
Muhlenbergia rigens
Also listed as Epicampes rigens, Muhlenbergia marshii
Also known as American Deergrass
Climate Match for your location
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A graceful native California bunchgrass with fine, upright foliage that turns bronze in fall and holds color through winter. Extremely drought-tolerant once established, requiring minimal water and maintenance.
Why grow it
Deergrass outperforms many native bunchgrasses in low-water landscapes where fine texture and winter color are valued. Compared to similar species like purple needlegrass, it tolerates poor soils more broadly and establishes faster, making it useful for erosion control on slopes and in restoration plantings across California's Mediterranean climate zones.
Watch out for
Young plants benefit from consistent moisture during their first growing season to develop a strong root system; establishment takes longer than some ornamental grasses. In areas with regular summer water, foliage can become lush and floppy rather than maintaining its characteristic upright form.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Poaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California, Arizona, Mexico
Native to: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A graceful native California bunchgrass with fine, upright foliage that turns bronze in fall and holds color through winter. Extremely drought-tolerant once established, requiring minimal water and maintenance.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Deergrass grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Deergrass outperforms many native bunchgrasses in low-water landscapes where fine texture and winter color are valued. Compared to similar species like purple needlegrass, it tolerates poor soils more broadly and establishes faster, making it useful for erosion control on slopes and in restoration plantings across California's Mediterranean climate zones.
Watch out for
Young plants benefit from consistent moisture during their first growing season to develop a strong root system; establishment takes longer than some ornamental grasses. In areas with regular summer water, foliage can become lush and floppy rather than maintaining its characteristic upright form.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Poaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California, Arizona, Mexico
Native to: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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