Alpine Timothy
Phleum alpinum
Last reviewed: June 2026
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
6"–24" H × 4"–12" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, ID and 11 more states
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Alpine timothy is a compact, cool-season grass that forms neat clumps with narrow leaves and distinctive cylindrical flower spikes. This hardy perennial maintains a tidy appearance throughout the growing season. It produces dense, bottlebrush-like seed heads from June through August.
In an HOA neighborhood
Alpine Timothy is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
Wildlife value
The seed heads provide food for songbirds and small mammals in late summer and fall. As a native grass, it offers habitat and nesting material for ground-dwelling wildlife.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Does Alpine Timothy fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.