Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Koeleria macrantha is a species in the Poaceae (Grass) family known by the common name Junegrass. It is native to much of North America, from Alaska to northern Mexico to the eastern United States. In California it is found from the coast to the mountains but is largely absent from the deserts and central valley. It occurs in a large number of habitat types, especially prairie. This is a short, tuft-forming perennial bunchgrass, reaching heights from 20 to 70 centimeters. The leaves are basal and up to about 20 centimeters long. The flower cluster is nearly cylindrical and may taper somewhat toward the tip. It holds shiny tan spikelets which are sometimes tinted with purple, each about half a centimeter long. It is a good forage for many types of grazing animals and is sometimes used in golf course rough.

Plant type

Grass

Size

8 - 28 in Tall
1 ft Wide

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Slow, Fast

Dormancy

Summer Semi-deciduous

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow, Brown

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Containers, Deer resistant

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade, Deep Shade

Water

Low

Ease of care

Easy

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to -15° F

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Tolerates a variety of soils.
Soil PH: 5.0 - 8.0

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, 6*, 7*, 8, 9, 10, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Dry open clay or rocky places

Plant communities

Alpine Fell-Fields, Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest

Use as an understory with Oaks (Quercus spp.) or other trees. Also useful in a meadow-like garden or rock garden with other native grasses, annual wildflowers, herbaceous perennials such as California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), succulents such as Dudleya spp., and various cactus species.

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

1 confirmed and 1 likely

Confirmed Likely

Columbian Skipper

Hesperia columbia

Nevada Skipper

Hesperia nevada