Muhlenbergia rigens
Deer grass
(c) Millie Basden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Muhlenbergia rigens (Deer grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by large size and tall cylindrical inflorescence unmistakable.
Deer grass is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, southern Coast Ranges, southern California, Transverse Ranges, San Jacinto Mountains, eastern Sierra Nevada, and Mojave Desert in sandy to gravelly places, canyons, and stream bottoms at elevations up to 2,150 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces yellow to purple flowers in dense, narrow cylindrical inflorescences 15 to 60 centimeters long. Growing in densely clumped tufts 50 to 150 centimeters tall with flat leaf blades 10 to 50 centimeters long, it forms robust, graceful clusters. Its leaf blades are narrow, 1.5 to 6 millimeters wide, with truncate ligules that are slightly ciliate. The delicate, appressed branches of its flowering structure create a distinctive feathery appearance characteristic of this elegant grass.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; large size and tall cylindrical inflorescence unmistakable
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy to gravelly places, canyons, stream bottoms
Elevation: < 2150 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Fresno, Monterey, Ventura, Inyo, Tulare, Nevada, Imperial, Orange, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Placer, Kern, Sacramento, Stanislaus, Alameda, Amador, Madera, Mariposa, San Benito, Tuolumne, Yuba, Butte, Sutter, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama, San Joaquin, San Francisco, Yolo, Calaveras
Outside California: to Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Muhlenbergia rigens blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Cenchrus: Cenchrus has spiny burs enclosing seed clusters; Muhlenbergia has open panicles without spines.; vs Nassella: Nassella has prominent bent awns; Muhlenbergia awns are straight or absent.; vs Festuca: Festuca has multiple-flowered spikelets; Muhlenbergia typically has single-flowered spikelets in open panicles.; vs Carex: Carex (sedges) has triangular stems and separate male/female flowers; Muhlenbergia has round stems.; vs Juncus: Juncus (rushes) has tiny brown chaffy flowers in clusters; Muhlenbergia has typical grass spikelets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Muhlenbergia rigens native to California?
Yes. Muhlenbergia rigens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Muhlenbergia rigens bloom?
Muhlenbergia rigens blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Muhlenbergia rigens grow?
Muhlenbergia rigens occurs in San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Fresno, Monterey, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of < 2150 m.
What plant family does Muhlenbergia rigens belong to?
Muhlenbergia rigens is in the Poaceae family, genus Muhlenbergia.
What habitat does Muhlenbergia rigens grow in?
Muhlenbergia rigens grows in Sandy to gravelly places, canyons, stream bottoms.
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.