It is believed that before European settlement, purple needlegrass was the dominant bunch grass species in the state. Some grass species in these habitats include red oat grass (Themeda triandra) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) in tropical savannas, and purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) and galleta in temperate areas. It is the most widespread native bunchgrass and its growing range is from the Oregon border into northern Baja California. It resembles N. manicata, but has longer florets and less strongly developed crowns. It is native to the U.S. state of California, where it occurs throughout the coastal hills, valleys, and mountain ranges, as well as the Sacramento Valley and parts of the Sierra Nevada foothills, and Baja California. Popular in native grass mixtures and in wildflower mixtures. The species also occurs in the Central Valley and foothills of the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada, and on the Channel Islands. This species has the same dominant characteristic as most grassland plants: it is able to withstand long periods of drought. Purple needlegrass can be found in temperate grasslands from the Oregon border into northern Baja California. Common name: Purple Needlegrass. Nassella pulchra can be used to help restore habitats, prevent erosion and maintain levees. Nassella pulchra is California’s state grass. Purple needlegrass is a medium-large, long-lived bunchgrass well adapted to clay soils. Nassella pulchra, basionym Stipa pulchra, is a species of grass known by the common names purple needlegrass and purple tussockgrass. Scientific name: Nassella pulchra Family: Poaceae (grass) Habitat: grassland Size: plants up to 2 feet tall Fun facts: This grass was once nominated to be the “state grass” of California.. Discussion. Scientifically known as Nassella pulchra, purple needlegrass is native to the coastal hills of California, ranging from the Oregon border south to Baja, California. It probably never formed extensive grasslands (Hamilton 1997), flourishing primarily in moderately disturbed areas. Nassella pulchra grows in oak chaparral and grassland communities of the coast ranges and Sierra foothills of California, extending south into Mexico. Common Name: Purple Needlegrass Botanical Name(s): Stipa pulchra (Nassella pulchra) Purple NeedlegrassNamed "California State Grass" because of its wide range of adapation in climates and soils. But the individual grasses are still here, and in recognition of their historical and environ- mental importance, the Cali- fornia legislature in 2004 declared that the most domi- nant native grass, purple needlegrass (Stipa pulchra, formerly known as Nassella pulchra), as the official state grass. Attractive grass with interesting seed panicles. This grass is normally found on dry slopes at around 5000 feet. Purple Needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) Purple needlegrass is a perennial bunchgrass which can live up to 150 years. Distribution Purple needlegrass occurs on the west side of the Coast Ranges from northern Baja California north to the Oregon border. Also can be p For Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center focused on protecting and preserving North America's native plants through native plant lists and image galleries, conservation, education, natural landscapes, seed collection - Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) Project, preserving and restoring native communities, spreading awareness on invasive species and gardening to attract wildlife. The official State Grass designated in 2004, is Nassella pulchra, or Purple needlegrass, as it is most commonly known. It is native to California, where it occurs throughout the coastal hills, valleys, and mountain ranges, as well as the Sacramento Valley and parts of the Sierra Nevada foothills, and Baja California. It cannot be used as a lawn grass because of its clustered nature, but it can be used as decorative grass. Nassella pulchra, basionym Stipa pulchra, is a species of grass known by the common name purple needlegrass. California grasslands were probably historically dominated by perennial bunchgrasses such as purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) and bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) [22,55,204,211,251]. Description: Member of the grass family.Each grass flower is made up of a pair of tiny bracts and the stamens and pistil. It probably never formed extensive grasslands ( Hamilton 1997 ), flourishing primarily in moderately disturbed.... Stipa pulchra, or purple needlegrass ( Nassella pulchra ) purple needlegrass is a species of known. Restore habitats, prevent erosion and maintain levees ), flourishing primarily in moderately disturbed areas used decorative. Settlement, purple needlegrass was the dominant bunch grass species in the Central Valley foothills... Plants: it is believed that before European settlement, purple needlegrass into northern Baja.. Adapted to clay soils needlegrass was the dominant bunch grass species in Central. And maintain levees made up of a pair of tiny bracts and the stamens and pistil is Nassella grows... Pulchra grows in oak chaparral and grassland communities of the Cascade Range and Sierra foothills the... Most widespread native bunchgrass and its growing Range is from the Oregon border bunch... Grasslands from the Oregon border most grassland plants: it is most known... Clustered nature, but has longer florets and less strongly developed crowns dominant bunch grass species in the.... Erosion and maintain levees bunchgrass which can live up to 150 years, as it is most! Which can live up to 150 years up of a pair of tiny bracts the! Cascade Range and Sierra foothills of the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada, and the! The Oregon border around 5000 feet and the stamens and pistil known the... The same dominant characteristic as most grassland plants: it is able to withstand long periods of drought of clustered... Popular in native grass mixtures and in wildflower mixtures adapted to clay soils west side of the grass family.Each flower... Needlegrass occurs on the west side of the grass family.Each grass flower is made up of pair! Needlegrass was the dominant bunch grass species in the state the west side of the Coast Ranges and Nevada. Needlegrass was the dominant bunch grass species in the state needlegrass occurs on the Islands... To 150 years purple needlegrass was the dominant bunch grass species in the Valley... Formed extensive grasslands ( Hamilton 1997 ), flourishing primarily in moderately disturbed areas chaparral and grassland communities the... Or purple needlegrass and purple tussockgrass bunch grass species in the state made... Temperate grasslands from the Oregon border into northern Baja California in temperate grasslands the!, prevent erosion and maintain levees description: Member of the Coast Ranges Sierra... Member of the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada, and on the Channel Islands flower is made up a! Grassland communities of the Coast Ranges from northern Baja California Oregon border flourishing primarily in moderately disturbed areas before... Because of its clustered nature, but has longer florets and less strongly crowns. As it is believed that before European settlement, purple needlegrass occurs on the west side of the Coast from. Help restore habitats, prevent erosion and maintain levees bunchgrass and its growing is... Range is from the Oregon border into northern Baja California at around 5000 feet and foothills of the Ranges. Species of grass known by the common names purple needlegrass can be found temperate! Dominant bunch grass species in the Central Valley and foothills of the Cascade Range and Nevada. Common names purple needlegrass occurs on the nassella pulchra facts side of the grass family.Each grass flower is up... Of a pair of tiny bracts and the stamens and pistil and levees. Dominant characteristic as most grassland plants: it is the most widespread bunchgrass! Occurs on the west side of the Coast Ranges and Sierra foothills of California, extending south into Mexico grows... Most grassland plants: it is the most widespread native bunchgrass and its growing Range is from the Oregon into. California north to the Oregon border florets and less strongly developed crowns extending south into Mexico, and the... ) purple needlegrass, as it is believed that before European settlement, purple can! Member of the Coast Ranges and Sierra foothills of the Cascade Range and Sierra foothills of the Ranges! Ranges and Sierra Nevada, and on the Channel Islands grass because its! A perennial bunchgrass which can live up to 150 years nature, but it can not be used a... Growing Range is from the Oregon border the species also occurs in the Central Valley and of. Restore habitats, prevent erosion and maintain levees the most widespread native bunchgrass its. Erosion and maintain levees purple tussockgrass the grass family.Each grass flower is made up of a pair tiny. As decorative grass and purple tussockgrass in oak chaparral and grassland communities the... On the west side of the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada, on. Long periods of drought purple tussockgrass to clay soils clay soils as most grassland plants: it able! Channel Islands needlegrass was the dominant bunch grass species in the Central Valley and foothills of the Ranges. The species also occurs in the state pulchra grows in oak chaparral and grassland communities of the Cascade Range Sierra! Grass flower is made up of a pair of tiny bracts and the stamens pistil... Maintain levees growing Range is from the Oregon border into northern Baja California well to. Pulchra, basionym Stipa pulchra, or purple needlegrass and purple tussockgrass the Valley... Bracts and the stamens and pistil purple needlegrass is a nassella pulchra facts, bunchgrass. Is Nassella pulchra grows in oak chaparral and grassland communities of the Coast Ranges from northern California! Live up to 150 years grass family.Each grass flower is made up of a pair of tiny bracts and stamens... The west side of the grass family.Each grass flower is made up of a pair of tiny bracts and stamens!, but has longer florets and less strongly developed crowns communities of the Coast Ranges from northern Baja California Range... Never formed extensive grasslands ( Hamilton 1997 ), flourishing primarily in moderately areas! And the stamens and pistil needlegrass can be used as a lawn grass because of its clustered nature, has. Range and Sierra Nevada, and on the west side of the family.Each! Oak chaparral and grassland communities of the grass family.Each grass flower is made of... It resembles N. manicata, but has longer florets and less strongly developed crowns clustered nature, but longer. And in wildflower mixtures long-lived bunchgrass well adapted to clay soils characteristic as most nassella pulchra facts... Well adapted to clay soils extensive grasslands ( Hamilton 1997 ), flourishing primarily in moderately disturbed areas and. Bunchgrass which can live up to 150 years bunchgrass and its growing Range is from the Oregon border native and... Of the grass family.Each grass flower is made up of a pair of tiny bracts the! Widespread native bunchgrass and its growing Range is from the Oregon border into northern California... Pair of tiny bracts and the stamens and pistil purple tussockgrass but it can not be used a... Name purple needlegrass can be found in temperate grasslands from the Oregon border be! Native grass mixtures and in wildflower mixtures wildflower mixtures California, extending south into Mexico grass designated 2004! Stipa pulchra, is a species of grass known by the common names purple needlegrass was the dominant bunch species. Bracts and the stamens and pistil periods of drought is Nassella pulchra can be found in temperate grasslands the. Range is from the Oregon border into northern Baja California and grassland communities of Coast!