Beargrass

Xerophyllum tenax

Beargrass is a dramatic western mountain perennial with a fountain of tough grasslike evergreen leaves and a towering creamy plume of tiny flowers. Fire-adapted and a striking, architectural native.

Family: Melanthiaceae
Type: wildflower
Lifespan: perennial
Height: 3–5 ft
Spacing: 1–2 ft apart
Light: sun, part shade
Soil moisture: dry, moist
Soil pH: acidic
Bloom: May, June, July
Bloom colors: white
Wildlife value: pollinators, mammals
Landscape uses: border
Native states: CA, ID, MT, OR, WA