Chloris gayana
Rhodes grass
(c) Greg Tasney, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Greg Tasney · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by Sympatric with 2 species; distinguished by size, numerous branches, and light brown coloration.
Rhodes grass is a naturalized perennial grass found in the Central Valley and Southern California Coast, occurring in disturbed areas at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this grass produces light brown to brown-orange spikelets 3 to 5 millimeters long with delicate hairy-tufted lemma margins. Growing with stoloniferous stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall, it spreads readily in open disturbed landscapes. Its leaves are long and narrow, measuring 25 to 50 centimeters in length and 3 to 9 millimeters wide, with hairy ligules and glabrous to slightly rough sheaths. The grass develops distinctive digitate inflorescences with 9 to 30 erect branches, each 8 to 15 centimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Sympatric with 2 species; distinguished by size, numerous branches, and light brown coloration
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Riverside, Tulare, Merced, Fresno, Kern, Ventura, Madera, Stanislaus, Colusa, Yolo, Imperial
Outside California: Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Florida, native to Africa
Bloom period
Chloris gayana blooms All year.
How to tell it apart
vs Spinus: Unable to generate comparison - Spinus is not a grass genus.; vs Spartina: Windmill grass has multiple branches per node; cordgrass has single unbranched spikes.; vs Festuca: Windmill grass has radiating finger spikes; fescue has single elongated panicles.; vs Sclerochloa: Windmill grass has long radiating spikes; hardgrass is a tiny rigid tuft.; vs Leptochloa: Windmill grass has multiple branches per node; sprangletop has single branches per node.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chloris gayana native to California?
No. Chloris gayana is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Chloris gayana bloom?
Chloris gayana blooms All year.
Where in California does Chloris gayana grow?
Chloris gayana occurs in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Riverside, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Chloris gayana belong to?
Chloris gayana is in the Poaceae family, genus Chloris.
What habitat does Chloris gayana grow in?
Chloris gayana grows in 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.