California Oatgrass
Danthonia californica
- Native to:
- Canada, Chile, United States
iNaturalist: © jimmylegs (iNaturalist #109081982)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Danthonia
- Species:
- Danthonia californica
- USDA Symbol:
- DACA3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Columbia skipper (Hesperia columbia), Lindsey's skipper (Hesperia lindseyi)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the base after fire. Common in fire-maintained grasslands and oak savannas.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in open grasslands and meadows
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best in cool conditions. Can also propagate vegetatively through cleistogamous spikelets.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: For divisions: Vitamin B-1 solution for 15 minutes. For seeds: None required.
Establishment: Seeds are collected between May 1st and July 15th. Mature inflorescences and seeds are light brown. The plant is found in open grassy meadows to rocky ridges, from coastal prairies to montane forests; from southern California to British Columbia east to Montana and south through the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico. It is also found in Chile.
Source: npn.rngr.net