Stipa lepida, known as Foothill Needlegrass or Small Flowered Needlegrass, is a native bunchgrass that grows in northwestern, central western, and southwestern California. In nature it tends to grow on dry slopes below 4,600 feet, in chaparral, grassland, oak savanna, or coastal sage scrub habitats.
This is a ‘cool season’ bunchgrass, with active growth during the winter through spring, and mid to late summer dormancy (partial to full deciduous) into the autumn.
Foothill Needlegrass is moderate to fast growing and can be long-lived. It grows in an upright mounding form to a height of 3 feet. It blooms in the early spring with golden yellow-tan flowers on stems above the foliage. Long narrow leaves are a medium green. It can tolerate occasional summer water, and may stay greener as a consequence, but will rot and die if it gets too much irrigation. It is drought tolerant with a very deep root system once established It is more tolerant of some shade than the other native needlegrasses (Stipa spp.), and can be used under the canopy of mature oaks and other native trees.