Xerophyllum sp.
Bear-grass, basket-grass, Basket-Grass
(c) David Anderson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by David Anderson · licence
Family: Melanthiaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Xerophyllum sp. (Bear-grass) is a native California perennial in the Melanthiaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Festuca: Xerophyllum leaves are extremely tough and wiry, persisting for years, while grass leaves are softer and die back annually.; vs Carex: Xerophyllum has dense white flower clusters on tall stalks with many small leaves continuing up the stem, unlike sedge flower spikes.; vs Cortaderia: Xerophyllum leaves are very narrow and wiry in small tufts, while pampas grass forms massive clumps with much wider, softer blades.; vs Trillium: Xerophyllum has numerous narrow, grass-like leaves, while Trillium has exactly three broad leaves in a single whorl.; vs Pseudotrillium: Xerophyllum has numerous narrow, grass-like leaves, while Pseudotrillium has exactly three broad leaves in a single whorl.
Frequently asked questions
Is Xerophyllum sp. native to California?
Yes. Xerophyllum sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Xerophyllum sp. belong to?
Xerophyllum sp. is in the Melanthiaceae family, genus Xerophyllum.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.