Description
Hesperostipa neomexicana,
New Mexico Needlegrass (old nomenclature: Stipa neomexicana) (Native)
Perennial, 2 – 4 ft. tall, cool-season, bunchgrass. Drought-tolerant, low water requirement, adapted best to sandy or gravely, rocky to loamy soil textures. Occurs in NV, UT, AZ, WY, TX and OK on adapted sites. Fair to good forage before needle-sharp seeds mature and after they drop. Very similar to Needle-and-threadgrass except for a little more robust and has longer, very pubescent awns on seed. Valuable for land restoration on adapted sites. Minimum precip is 8 inches, Plant in fall ½ inch deep. 90,000 seeds/lb.
USDA: Plant Profile
