How much sun does Torrey's melicgrass need?

Torrey's melicgrass grows best in part shade conditions.

When does Torrey's melicgrass bloom?

Torrey's melicgrass blooms in April and May.

Where is Torrey's melicgrass native?

Torrey's melicgrass (Melica torreyana) is native to CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.

Torrey's melicgrass

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Melica torreyana

Last reviewed: September 2026

Torrey's melicgrass (Melica torreyana) is a perennial grass native to CA. It blooms in April and May.

Toxicity unknown

Torrey's melicgrass (Melica torreyana) 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

part shade

Water

low

Size

12"–30" H × 8"–16" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Northwestern Forested Mountains

Clump-forming perennial bunchgrass with slender green blades and narrow flowering spikes in spring, growing in dry shaded woodlands and on rocky slopes beneath oaks.

Growing Torrey's melicgrass

Grow Torrey's melicgrass in part shade and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 30 inches tall and spread 8 to 16 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Seeds provide food for small birds, and the clumping form offers cover for ground-dwelling insects.

Common questions

How much sun does Torrey's melicgrass need?: Torrey's melicgrass grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Torrey's melicgrass bloom?: Torrey's melicgrass blooms in April and May.
Where is Torrey's melicgrass native?: Torrey's melicgrass (Melica torreyana) is native to CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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.

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Ready to grow Torrey's melicgrass? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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