Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Phalaris californica is an uncommon species of grass known by the common name California canarygrass. It is native to the coastal hills and mountains of southern Oregon and northern and central California, where it grows mainly in moist areas, such as meadows. It is a perennial grass reaching maximum heights between one half and 1.5 meters. The flower cluster is up to 5 centimeters long and 3 wide, roughly oval, pointed at the tip and truncated at the base. The spikelets are hairy and as they ripen they turn shades of magenta to bright pink.

Plant type

Grass

Size

2 - 5 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Brown

Sun

Deep Shade, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Ease of care

Moderate

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones

4*, 5*, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24*

Site type

Moist places, meadows

Plant communities

Closed-cone Pine Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Olive Green Cutworm Moth

Dargida procinctus

Woodland Skipper

Ochlodes sylvanoides