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Aristida purpurea var. purpurea
Aristida purpurea Nutt. var. purpurea
Purple Threeawn, Red Threeawn
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Synonym(s): Aristida purpurea var. laxiflora, Aristida roemeriana
USDA Symbol: ARPUP6
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Vegetatively similar to Aristida purpurea, culms erect and 15-70 cm. tall. Panicles: narrow but loose, 5-18 cm. long with small, delicate spikelets.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Panicle
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 28 inches tall.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit: Reddish purple.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Green , Purple , BrownBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Best appearance of flower when backlit by sunlight
Distribution
USA: AR , AZ , CA , CO , KS , LA , NM , NV , OK , TX , UTNative Distribution: Texas north to Utah, Colorado and Kansas, south to northern Mexico.
Native Habitat: Dry hills and plains, sandy or clayey soils.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Conditions Comments: Native clumping grass with fine textured leaves and purple flowers that are showy when the sunlight illuminates them in the summer and fall. It is drought tolerant and cold hardy to about 10 degrees F. Looks its best when grown with moisture and better garden soils. Wait to prune off dormant foliage unitl spring to enjoy winter structure. Combines well with annuals and perennials and adds softmess to the garden. The seeds have sharp points and will embed themselves into your socks.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Beautiful garden grass with delicate, showy purple seed heads.Use Wildlife: Seeds for birds.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: The Grass Family is an essential larval food for most branded skippers and most of the satyrs.
Deer Resistant: Moderate
Value to Beneficial Insects
Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsDescription: Seed in spring
Seed Treatment: No special pre-treatment.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: If plant becomes ratty in appearance, cut back to 4" to refresh. Remove seed heads before they mature if seedlings are not desired.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
Bibliography
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, SallySearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Aristida purpurea var. purpurea in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Aristida purpurea var. purpurea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Aristida purpurea var. purpurea
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-11-23Research By: MWJ