Anatherum eremicum
Southwestern bushy bluestem, Southwestern Bushy Bluestem
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Family: Poaceae (Gramineae) · Type: Grass · Native
Anatherum eremicum (Southwestern bushy bluestem) is a native California grass in the Poaceae (Gramineae) family, recognized by size, spikelet length, and native status.
Southwestern bushy bluestem is a California native grass found in the North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range Foothills, northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast, Channel Islands, Peninsular Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Desert bioregions, growing in moist, open, disturbed areas and seeps below 1,360 meters, with naturalized populations also on the North Coast. Flowering from September to March, it produces stems 0.8 to 1.5 meters tall with plume-like inflorescences and spikelets bearing awns 6 to 19 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by size, spikelet length, and native status
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, open, disturbed areas, seeps
Elevation: < 1360 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Marin, Butte, Inyo, Sonoma, Solano, Monterey, Tehama
Outside California: to New Mexico, Baja California
Bloom period
Anatherum eremicum blooms Sep--Mar.
How to tell it apart
vs Anatherum: Andropogon has fluffy, cottony seed heads from hairy bristles; check spikelet arrangement.; vs Sorghum: Andropogon has single spikelets per node; Sorghum has paired or clustered spikelets.; vs Hyparrhenia: Andropogon has one spikelet per node; Hyparrhenia has paired spikelets.; vs Bothriochloa: Andropogon has single spikelets at nodes; Bothriochloa has paired spikelets.; vs Heteropogon: Andropogon has single spikelets per node; Heteropogon has multiple spikelets per node.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anatherum eremicum native to California?
Yes. Anatherum eremicum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Anatherum eremicum bloom?
Anatherum eremicum blooms Sep--Mar.
Where in California does Anatherum eremicum grow?
Anatherum eremicum occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Marin, Butte and other counties, at elevations of < 1360 m.
What plant family does Anatherum eremicum belong to?
Anatherum eremicum is in the Poaceae (Gramineae) family, genus Anatherum.
What habitat does Anatherum eremicum grow in?
Anatherum eremicum grows in Moist, open, disturbed areas, seeps.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.