Stipa lemmonii var. pubescens

Pubescent needle grass

Family: Poaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 3.2

Pubescent needle grass is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges in Lake and Tehama counties, growing in chaparral and open pine forest on serpentine terrain at elevations of 1,000 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from June to July, this grass produces delicate pale flowers in slender, drooping clusters. Growing with stems densely covered in soft, woolly hairs, particularly near the base, it forms graceful clumps up to knee height. Its narrow leaves emerge from tomentose sheaths, creating a soft, textured appearance characteristic of needle grass species. The dense, pubescent stems and delicate inflorescences make this grass a subtle but distinctive component of serpentine woodland landscapes.

Habitat: Chaparral, open pine forest, on serpentine

Bloom period: Jun-Jul

Elevation: 1000-1300 m

Bioregions: NCoRH, NCoRI (Lake, Tehama cos.).

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