Lemmon's needlegrass
Stipa lemmonii
Last reviewed: September 2026
Lemmon's needlegrass (Stipa lemmonii) is a perennial grass native to AZ, CA, ID, MT and 4 more states. It blooms in April, May, and June. It reads as an intentional, HOA-friendly planting in the right spot.
Toxicity unknown
Lemmon's needlegrass (Stipa lemmonii) 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
Apr, May, Jun
Native to
AZ, CA, ID, MT and 4 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 areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
A native, cool-season bunchgrass that forms dense tufts of narrow, gray-green foliage. Slender flowering stems rise above the clump in late spring, each floret tipped with a long, sharply bent awn typical of needlegrasses. The clump greens up with cool-season moisture and cures to a soft tan through the dry season, regrowing from the same root crown the following year.
Growing Lemmon's needlegrass
Grow Lemmon's needlegrass in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Lemmon's needlegrass is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: defined perennial bed with a mowed or edged border, dry meadow planting mixed with other clump forming natives, slope or bank stabilization planting.
- The long, sharply bent seed awns can catch on clothing and pet fur, so keep it away from paths and pet-heavy areas
- Left untrimmed for several seasons the clump can look shaggy; an annual late-summer cutback keeps its shape tidy
Wildlife value
Its foliage and seed provide cover and forage for small birds and ground-dwelling insects in dry grassland and open-woodland habitat. Like most native bunchgrasses, an established clump helps anchor soil and creates the kind of microhabitat structure ground-nesting bees rely on, which turf grasses do not provide.
Common questions
- How much sun does Lemmon's needlegrass need?
- Lemmon's needlegrass grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Lemmon's needlegrass bloom?
- Lemmon's needlegrass blooms in April, May, and June.
- Where is Lemmon's needlegrass native?
- Lemmon's needlegrass (Stipa lemmonii) is native to AZ, CA, ID, MT and 4 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Lemmon's needlegrass HOA-friendly?
- Lemmon's needlegrass is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
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 Lemmon's needlegrass? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.