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Native Plant Database

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Digitaria californica (Benth.) Henr.

Arizona cottontop, California cottontop, California crab grass, Cottontop

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonyms: Trichachne californica

USDA Symbol: DICA8

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A warm-season bunchgrass with erect culms from a knotty, felty base. Numerous leaves surround the 2-4 ft. culms which bear attractive white to purplish, cottony seedheads.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Panicle
Fruit Type: Achene , Caryopsis
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , NM , OK , TX
Native Distribution: TX & OK to s. CO, AZ & Mex.
Native Habitat: Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannahs
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Deep, well-drained soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay.
Conditions Comments: A very drought tolerant species, rarely found in pure stands. It will repeatedly go to seed when moisture is available. Useful both as an ornamental and for improving rangeland.

Propagation

Description: Not Available
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Digitaria californica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Digitaria californica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Digitaria californica

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-21
Research By: TWC Staff

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