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Xerophyllum tenax

Also Known As

Bear Grass
Common Beargrass
Indian Basket Grass
Soap Grass
Squaw Grass

Plant type

perennial, grass / grass like

size

H: 24"-36"
W: 12"-24"

planting zones

6a-9b

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Xerophyllum tenax plant details

Xerophyllum tenax is an evergreen perennial grass (or grassy in appearance) with blue, green and white foliage. In spring and summer white flowers emerge. Features grassy texture. Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - dappled shade and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Does well in average, gritty and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something verticillium wilt resistant and wind tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Xerophyllum tenax

Plant type: perennial grass (or grassy in appearance)
Plant family: melanthiaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue, green and white
Mature size: 12 IN - 24 IN - wide, 24 IN - 36 IN - tall
Flowers: white blooms in spring and summer
Uses: fragrant, monocarpic, native plant, rare, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Xerophyllum tenax

USDA Zones: 6a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - dappled shade
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: verticillium wilt and wind
Soil needs: average, gritty and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

A magnificent feature of the open woods and meadows of the mountains; the attractive bunches of grass-like leaves emerge wrapped around a single ground level stalk, these grassy tufts are pretty alone, but the plume-like spikes of lightly-fragrant white flowers are a sight to behold! An important part of the fire ecology in its native habitat of the western United States and Canada, where it thrives after sporadic burns; bear grass foliage was commonly used by the Native Americans for basketry and the roasted root was used as a food source. S-PSh/D-GDr

By: Forestfarm

Native to mountains of western North America. Looks like a grass but is actually in the lily family. Stiff, arching grassy leaves form an 2-3’ architectural clump which is evergreen. Flowers at 5-7 years, a spectacular white spike with fragrant flowers to 6’…plant dies after flowering…but pups around the mother plant continue the cycle! Sun, well drained soils, drought tolerant, but also seems fine with regular water; fire resistant, deer hate it. Indians used the foliage in intricate basket weaving. Rarely offered.

By: Secret Garden Growers

Bear grass is a spectactular BC native plant that remains uncommon in cultivation, probably because it can take some time to reach flowering size. Bear grass looks like a grass but is actually from the lily family. Its fine, shiny, toothed grass-like foliage forms an attractive evergreen mound. Its dramatic cone-shaped flower spikes can reach six feet in height. The flowers are creamy-white and fragrant. Evenly moist, well-drained soil in part shade to sun.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

Blooms: summer, racemes of fragrant white blooms/ magnificent fountains of silvery evergreen foliage. Zone 3-9. 4', PNW, part shade-sun, moist, well drained

By: Keeping it Green Nursery

One of our good natives which graces the high montane to subalpine areas of the Cascades. Tough grassy leaves to 30" in clumps which eventually support a massive flowering stem to 6' like a giant white-hot Poker. And sweetly scented too. The leaves were prized for basketry.