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Native Plant Database

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Danthonia californica Boland.

California oatgrass, California wild oat grass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

USDA Symbol: daca3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

California wild oat grass is a low, perennial bunchgrass, to 1 1/2 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.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: 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
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MA , MT , NM , NV , OR , SD , UT , WA , WY
Canada: 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.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light 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 Collection: Not Available
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.

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:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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