Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana
Silver bluestem, Silver Bluestem
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana (Silver bluestem) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by distinctive silvery inflorescence with >10 branches.
Silver bluestem is a naturalized perennial grass found in the central Sierra Nevada Foothills of Mariposa County, Sacramento Valley, and southern Coastal Range of Santa Barbara County on rocky slopes and disturbed areas at around 900 meters elevation. Flowering from July to November, this grass produces silvery to tan-colored inflorescences with branches extending 1 to 5 centimeters long, creating a distinctive silvery appearance. Growing in clumped formations with stems 40 to 130 centimeters tall, it spreads across disturbed landscapes with a robust, dense growth habit. Its leaves are primarily basal, with blade lengths ranging from 5 to 21 centimeters, spreading outward in a characteristic grass-like pattern. The plant's spikelet structure is particularly notable, with sessile spikelets 2.5 to 4.5 millimeters long and distinctive lemma awns measuring 7 to 16 millimeters.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive silvery inflorescence with >10 branches
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, disturbed areas
Elevation: +- 900 m.
California counties: Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Mariposa, Solano, Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, Butte, Alameda, Yolo
Outside California: native to central and southern United States, northern Mexico, South America
Bloom period
Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana blooms Jul-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Sorghum: Bothriochloa has branched, finger-like clusters; Sorghum has a dense, compact seed head.; vs Hyparrhenia: Bothriochloa stalks have translucent grooves; Hyparrhenia stalks are smooth without grooves.; vs Heteropogon: Bothriochloa has branched flower clusters; Heteropogon has one simple, unbranched spike.; vs Andropogon: Bothriochloa has paired spikelets at nodes; Andropogon has single spikelets with hairy bristles.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana native to California?
No. Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana bloom?
Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana blooms Jul-Nov.
Where in California does Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana grow?
Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana occurs in Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Mariposa, Solano, Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, Butte and other counties, at elevations of +- 900 m..
What plant family does Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana belong to?
Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana is in the Poaceae family, genus Bothriochloa.
What habitat does Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana grow in?
Bothriochloa laguroides subsp. torreyana grows in Rocky slopes, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.