Muhlenbergia rigens (Deergrass)
← Back to Plant DatabaseMuhlenbergia rigens
Deergrass
Characteristics
Height: 4 - 5 ft
Width: 4 ft
Natural Setting: Found in sandy, gravelly places, canyons, and washes within chaparral communities; also in yellow pine woodland or foothill woodland, and occasionally on seasonal stream banks or wetland areas.
Plant Type: Grass
Dormancy: Evergreen
Form: Upright, Fountain
Growth Rate: Fast to Moderate
Flower Season: Spring
Drainage: Tolerates Fast, Medium, Slow drainage
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Water Requirements: Low once established
Cold Tolerance: Not explicitly mentioned, but it is adaptable to a range of California climates.
Overview
Iconic grass in California. Deergrass is beloved for good reason! It looks good year round as it tolerates a variety of conditions while maintaining a consistent form. This warm season perennial grass is a low maintenance grass, every few years you can rake out the older leaves and flower stalks or cut it back but is not a necessity. Great for use in mass plantings, as a textural garden accent, in seasonally dry creek beds and erosion control on slopes.
Anecdotal Experiences
Used a lot in landscaping but underused in residential.
All-star single specimen grass or mixed planting around other shrubs
Does well in wetter spots but tolerates decently dry areas
We encourage you to comment below and share your own experiences and recommendations for this species.
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A great native lawn replacement - can be mowed or left long. Requires significantly less water than turf grass.