Deergrass
Muhlenbergia rigens
Big fountain grass for dry gardens; basket weavers' favorite.
Hardiness: zones 7 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 4 ft tall, 4 ft wide
From: California and SW
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: wildlife.
Native to: California, Desert Southwest. Hardy in zones 7 to 10.
The story
Deergrass makes a big, graceful fountain along California's dry stream beds. Its long, straight flower stalks are the foundation of coiled baskets made by many California peoples, who burned the clumps to make them grow better stalks.
Planting
Full sun and any soil. Space clumps 4 feet apart.
Growing
Water monthly in summer to keep it green, or not at all for a tan one. Cut or rake it back every few years.
Harvest and use
Cover for quail and lizards, seed for birds, and a host for the umber skipper.
What to watch for
It gets big. Give it its full four feet.
See if Deergrass fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home