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Danthonia californica
Danthonia californica Bol.
California Oatgrass, California Wild Oat Grass
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Synonym(s): Danthonia americana, Danthonia californica var. americana, Danthonia californica var. californica, Danthonia californica var. palousensis, Danthonia californica var. piperi
USDA Symbol: daca3
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
California Wild Oat Grass is a low, perennial bunchgrass, to 1-1/2 to 4 ft. tall, with dense tufts of fuzzy, dull-green leaves and half-decumbent flowering culms with nodding spikelets. This grass is not particularly conspicuous even in flower.
From the Image Gallery
No images of this plant
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Inflorescence: Panicle
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: RedBloom Time: Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MA , MT , NM , NV , OR , SD , UT , WA , WYCanada: AB , BC , SK
Native Distribution: Black Hills to MT & B.C., s. to CO, AZ & CA
Native Habitat: Meadows, open woods & dry hills below 5000 ft.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Moist soils.
Conditions Comments: A good, basic grass for the lowland meadow or rock garden. It withstands traffic and trampling.
Propagation
Description: Sow seed.Seed Treatment: No pretreatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACU | FACU | FACU | FAC |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Additional resources
USDA: Find Danthonia californica in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Danthonia californica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Danthonia californica
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-01-23Research By: TWC Staff