San Diego County needle grass
Stipa diegoensis
Last reviewed: November 2026
San Diego County needle grass (Stipa diegoensis) is a perennial grass native to CA. It blooms in March, April, and May. The flowers draw wind-pollinated.
Watering reminders and freeze alerts for San Diego County needle grass, free in the app.
Toxicity unknown
San Diego County needle grass (Stipa diegoensis) 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"–24" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
CA
Pollinators
wind-pollinated
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 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like San Diego County needle grass.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
A fine-textured, clumping needlegrass with slender green blades that form a neat rounded tuft and produce airy, awned seed heads in spring. It grows in open scrub and grassland on dry soils.
Growing San Diego County needle grass
Grow San Diego County needle grass in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Seeds feed small birds, and the bunchgrass form provides shelter for ground-nesting native bees.
Common questions
- How much sun does San Diego County needle grass need?
- San Diego County needle grass grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does San Diego County needle grass bloom?
- San Diego County needle grass blooms in March, April, and May.
- Where is San Diego County needle grass native?
- San Diego County needle grass (Stipa diegoensis) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does San Diego County needle grass attract?
- San Diego County needle grass draws wind-pollinated.
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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow San Diego County needle grass? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.