porcupinegrass
Hesperostipa spartea
USDA zones3 to 6
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterHandles dry to moderate soil
Sizeup to 24 inches tall
- Habit
- Grass/grass-like
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Bloom color
- Yellow
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand
Garden uses
Notes
Porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea) is a grass for woodland and meadow plantings. It is hardy to USDA zone 3, or down to -40°F (-40°C). This plant likes full sun and dry to average, sandy soil. Upright to arching clumps of stout stems rise 2 to 3 feet or more. Long, slender, nodding seedheads carry pointed, twisted awns that grow 4 to 8 inches long. The whole plant cures silvery white in fall.
Pairs well with Arizona Sun blanket flower, Black Oil sunflower, and Ponderosa pine.
Native range
CO, IA, IL, IN, and 14 more places. See all 18
CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, OH, OK, PA, SD, WI, and WY.