Melinis repens subsp. repens

Natal grass, ruby grass, Ruby Grass

Family: Poaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Natal grass is a naturalized perennial grass found in southern California regions including San Joaquin Valley, Santa Clara Coast, San Diego County, and Transverse Ranges at elevations below 850 meters in disturbed areas and on slopes. Flowering throughout the year, this grass produces rose to purple spikelets that fade to pink or white, with delicate silky hairs creating a soft, shimmering appearance. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 40 to 150 centimeters tall, it has distinctive internodes that are either glabrous or bear swollen-based hairs. Its grass blades are 3 to 27 centimeters long and 2 to 9 millimeters wide, with upper surfaces remaining smooth and unadorned. The inflorescence develops 6 to 22 centimeters long, with primary branches ranging 2.5 to 6 centimeters and spikelets that are 2 to 5.5 millimeters in length.

Habitat: Disturbed areas, slopes

Bloom period: All year

Elevation: < 850 m

Bioregions: NCoRO, SnJV, s CCo, SCoRO, SCo, WTR, PR

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.