Lemmon’s Needlegrass

Achnatherum lemmonii

a few bunches of thin-leaved, partially dead needlegrass mixed in with kinnikinnick and leaf litter.

a bunchgrass with very thin leaves, living leaves green and dead leaves tannish.

Plant Description

Lemmon’s needlegrass is a medium to long lived, relatively short, densely tufted perennial grass with stems that are 20-80 cm tall and hairy below the nodes. Leaf blades are 10-20cm long, flat or rolled inward, and often blue-green in color. The form is spreading to upright and the inflorescence is spike-like, narrow, and pale or purplish in color. Flowers in May, seeds mature by mid-June. Also known as Lemmon’s stipa, Stipa lemmonii.

Plant Details

Life Forms	Grass or Grass-like
Habitats	Balds Hillsides Little Habitats Oak savannas Residential yards Upland prairies
Soil and Moisture Conditions	Dry Low fertility soil Rocky or gravelly soil
Special Uses	Drought tolerant Forage/grazing Provides wildlife habitat
Shade Preference	Full sun
Mature Height	2.5'
Distribution	This species is infrequent in the Willamette Valley and Puget lowlands where it is often confined to foothills and south slopes. It is more common east of the Cascades as well as in southern Oregon and California.
More Info	https://adminplants.sc.egov.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_acle8.pdf