How much sun does Needle and thread grass need?

Needle and thread grass grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Needle and thread grass bloom?

Needle and thread grass blooms in May, June, and July.

Where is Needle and thread grass native?

Needle and thread grass (Hesperostipa comata) is native to AZ, CA, CO, IA and 21 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Needle and thread grass

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Hesperostipa comata

Last reviewed: September 2026

Needle and thread grass (Hesperostipa comata) is a perennial grass native to AZ, CA, CO, IA and 21 more states. It blooms in May, June, and July.

Toxicity unknown

Needle and thread grass (Hesperostipa comata) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–40" H × 12"–18" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, IA and 21 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Sierra Nevada Southern California Mountains Northwestern Forested Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Mojave Basin and Range Southern Rockies Arizona/New Mexico Mountains High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains Great Plains Northern Glaciated Plains Western Corn Belt Plains North Central Hardwood Forests Sonoran Basin and Range Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

A fine-textured bunchgrass of dry prairie and steppe, with narrow blue-green leaves and long, silky, corkscrew-twisted seed awns that catch the light. The showy but far-reaching awns can shed and scatter widely, giving it a looser look than a clipped ornamental grass.

Growing Needle and thread grass

Grow Needle and thread grass in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 40 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Provides nesting material and cover for grassland birds and small mammals.

Common questions

How much sun does Needle and thread grass need?: Needle and thread grass grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Needle and thread grass bloom?: Needle and thread grass blooms in May, June, and July.
Where is Needle and thread grass native?: Needle and thread grass (Hesperostipa comata) is native to AZ, CA, CO, IA and 21 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Needle and thread grass? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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