Aira elegans
Elegant hair grass
(c) Kym Nicolson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Aira elegans (Elegant hair grass) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by . Key diagnostic feature: spikelet stalks 2-8x spikelet length vs 1-2x in caryophyllea, plus unequal inflorescence branches.
Elegant hair grass is a naturalized annual grass found in northern Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, western Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in sandy to clay soils at elevations generally below 400 meters. Flowering from April to May, this grass produces delicate pale green to white spikelets in open, spreading inflorescences. Growing with slender stems 9 to 35 centimeters tall that are generally smooth and glabrous, the plant forms loose, airy clusters. Its leaves have smooth sheaths and ligules, with fine, narrow blades characteristic of hair grasses. The small spikelets feature delicate awns approximately 3 millimeters long, adding a feathery texture to the plant's overall appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species. Key diagnostic feature: spikelet stalks 2-8x spikelet length vs 1-2x in caryophyllea, plus unequal inflorescence branches
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy to clay soils, open sites
Elevation: generally < 400 m
Outside California: to Washington, eastern and southern United States, native to southern Europe
Bloom period
Aira elegans blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Briza: Aira has delicate linear spikelets; Briza has distinctive heart-shaped, dangling spikelets.; vs Eriocoma: Aira is a tiny silvery annual; Eriocoma is a robust perennial bunchgrass with twisted awns.; vs Vahlodea: Aira is annual with no axis extension; Vahlodea is perennial with tiny axis extension.; vs Deschampsia: Aira is annual and delicate; Deschampsia is perennial, often forming dense tufts.; vs Trisetum: Aira has no axis extension beyond flowers; Trisetum has a hairy bristle extending beyond.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aira elegans native to California?
No. Aira elegans is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Aira elegans bloom?
Aira elegans blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Aira elegans belong to?
Aira elegans is in the Poaceae family, genus Aira.
What habitat does Aira elegans grow in?
Aira elegans grows in Sandy to clay soils, open sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.