Xerophyllum tenax
Common beargrass
(c) Nelson Balcar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nelson Balcar · licence
Family: Melanthiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Xerophyllum tenax (Common beargrass) is a native California herb in the Melanthiaceae family, recognized by Only Xerophyllum species in California, distinctive growth form and range.
Common beargrass is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern high Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, central Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area in dry open slopes, ridges, and montane conifer forest at elevations below 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white flowers in dense clusters with perianth parts approximately oblong and style less than 1 millimeter long. Growing with tall stems 15 to 150 centimeters in height, it forms a distinctive dense basal clump of long, narrow leaves. Its basal leaves are 30 to 100 centimeters long and only 2 to 6 millimeters wide, with numerous reduced cauline leaves extending upward along the stem. The fruit is 5 to 7 millimeters long, completing the plant's distinctive alpine and montane habitat profile.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Xerophyllum species in California, distinctive growth form and range
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry open slopes, ridges, montane conifer forest
Elevation: < 2300 m
California counties: Mendocino, Monterey, Plumas, Siskiyou, Napa, Santa Cruz, Humboldt, Del Norte, Nevada, Marin, Trinity, El Dorado, Placer, Sonoma, Butte, Lassen, Mono
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Wyoming
Bloom period
Xerophyllum tenax blooms May-Aug.
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 tenax native to California?
Yes. Xerophyllum tenax is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Xerophyllum tenax bloom?
Xerophyllum tenax blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Xerophyllum tenax grow?
Xerophyllum tenax occurs in Mendocino, Monterey, Plumas, Siskiyou, Napa, Santa Cruz, Humboldt, Del Norte and other counties, at elevations of < 2300 m.
What plant family does Xerophyllum tenax belong to?
Xerophyllum tenax is in the Melanthiaceae family, genus Xerophyllum.
What habitat does Xerophyllum tenax grow in?
Xerophyllum tenax grows in dry open slopes, ridges, montane conifer forest.
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.