How much sun does Porcupine grass need?

Porcupine grass grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Porcupine grass bloom?

Porcupine grass blooms in May and June.

Where is Porcupine grass native?

Porcupine grass (Hesperostipa spartea) is native to CO, IA, IL, IN and 14 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Porcupine grass

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Hesperostipa spartea

Last reviewed: September 2026

Porcupine grass (Hesperostipa spartea) is a perennial grass native to CO, IA, IL, IN and 14 more states. It blooms in May and June.

Toxicity unknown

Porcupine grass (Hesperostipa spartea) 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

24"–48" H × 18"–24" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

CO, IA, IL, IN and 14 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

Northwestern Forested Mountains Southern Rockies High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Great Plains Central Irregular Plains Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains Northern Glaciated Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Interior River Valleys and Hills

A cool-season bunchgrass with narrow, rolled leaves and tall stems bearing long, sharply pointed seeds attached to a dramatically twisted, corkscrew awn. Grows in dry to mesic tallgrass prairie, greening up early in spring.

Growing Porcupine grass

Grow Porcupine grass in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 18 to 24 inches wide.

Wildlife value

The seeds provide food for ground-foraging birds, and the bunchgrass structure offers nesting cover for grassland birds and shelter for small mammals.

Common questions

How much sun does Porcupine grass need?: Porcupine grass grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Porcupine grass bloom?: Porcupine grass blooms in May and June.
Where is Porcupine grass native?: Porcupine grass (Hesperostipa spartea) is native to CO, IA, IL, IN and 14 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 Porcupine grass? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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