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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Hesperostipa spartea (Porcupinegrass)
Smith, R.W.

Hesperostipa spartea

Hesperostipa spartea (Trin.) Barkworth

Porcupinegrass, Porcupine Grass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s): Stipa spartea

USDA Symbol: HESP11

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Upright to arching clumps of stout stems rise 2-3+ ft. The seeds, occuring in long, slender, nodding seedheads, have a pointed, twisted awn, 4-8" long. The entire plant cures silvery white in fall.

 

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 3-1/2 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: CO , IA , IL , IN , KS , MI , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NM , OH , OK , PA , SD , WI , WY
Native Distribution: Ont. to B.C., s. to OH, MO, NM & MT
Native Habitat: Dry prairies & open woodlands

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Dry, rocky or sandy soils.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Unlike seeds of most other grasses, porcupine grass seeds germinate best when planted deep (3/4"). Seeds have a way of sowing themselves naturally by means of a twisted awn that screws the seed into the ground. Sow seeds in spring. They prefer cool wea
Seed Collection: Collect in late Jun. to Jul.
Seed Treatment: Moist stratification may increase germination.
Commercially Avail: yes

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-25
Research By: TWC Staff

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