Bouteloua barbata var. barbata
Sixweeks grama
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Poaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Bouteloua barbata var. barbata (Sixweeks grama) is a native California annual in the Poaceae family, recognized by persistent branches and annual habit.
Sixweeks grama is a California native annual grass found in the San Joaquin Valley, eastern San Diego coastal area, eastern Peninsular Ranges, and desert regions in open sandy to rocky slopes, scrublands, and woodlands at elevations below 1,800 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces delicate pale green to tan spikelets in spreading branches 6 to 25 millimeters long. Growing prostrate to erect with stems 3 to 30 centimeters tall, it spreads across the landscape with flexible, thin stems. Its narrow leaf blades measure less than 6 centimeters long and are typically less than 2 millimeters wide, creating a fine, wispy appearance. The grass produces distinctive spikelets with 2 to 3 florets, featuring small awns 0.5 to 3 millimeters long that give the plant a delicate, feathery texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key feature is persistent branches and annual habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally open, sandy to rocky slopes, flats, washes, roadsides, disturbed sites, scrub, woodland, pine forest
Elevation: < 1800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Inyo, San Diego, Fresno
Outside California: to Montana, Kansas, southern Mexico, Argentina
Bloom period
Bouteloua barbata var. barbata blooms All year.
How to tell it apart
vs Cenchrus: Bouteloua has one-sided comb-like spikes; Cenchrus has spiny burs around the spikelets.; vs Melica: Bouteloua has spikelets on one side only; Melica has spikelets all around the branches.; vs Avena: Bouteloua has tiny comb-like spikes; Avena has large, dangling spikelets in open clusters.; vs Ehrharta: Bouteloua has 3-veined lemmas; Ehrharta has hardened sterile lemmas below the fertile one.; vs Hordeum: Bouteloua has one-sided brush spikes; Hordeum has cylindrical spikes with bristly glumes all around.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bouteloua barbata var. barbata native to California?
Yes. Bouteloua barbata var. barbata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bouteloua barbata var. barbata bloom?
Bouteloua barbata var. barbata blooms All year.
Where in California does Bouteloua barbata var. barbata grow?
Bouteloua barbata var. barbata occurs in San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Inyo, San Diego, Fresno, at elevations of < 1800 m.
What plant family does Bouteloua barbata var. barbata belong to?
Bouteloua barbata var. barbata is in the Poaceae family, genus Bouteloua.
What habitat does Bouteloua barbata var. barbata grow in?
Bouteloua barbata var. barbata grows in Generally open, sandy to rocky slopes, flats, washes, roadsides, disturbed sites, scrub, woodland, pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-09
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.