Needlegrass
Stipa grandis
- Native to:
- China, Russia
Canada. Parlement,Seidel, Kenneth W Pacific Northwest Research Station (Portland, Or.),Seidel, Kenneth W Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station (Portland, Or.),Seidel, Kenneth W. cn Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station (Portland, Or.) United States. Forest Service. cn,A.L. Don & Co,Fèa, Carlo, 1753-1836,J.M. Thorburn & Co Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection,Finocchietti, Demetrio Carlo,Wm E. Attwood Co,Muller-Sealey Company,D'Annunzio, Gabriele, 1863-1938,United States. Soil Conservation Service Cleary, C. W
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Stipa
- Species:
- Stipa grandis
- USDA Symbol:
- STGR13
Growth Characteristics
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- golden
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from basal buds following fire. Typical of fire-adapted steppe grasslands.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, nutrient-poor sandy loam
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to steppe regions with low fertility soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with cold stratification. Light may improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI