06/05/2026
Flora fun fact Friday.
Indian basket grass, also known as Beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax), is a grass-like perennial native to western North America, famous for its tough, olive-green leaves and tall, fragrant flower stalks that bloom in cycles. Native Americans used its leaves for weaving baskets and clothing, and its roots for medicinal purposes, while today it's valued as an ornamental plant and for wildlife habitat, providing food and shelter for various animals.
Characteristics
Appearance: Forms clumps of long, sharp, grass-like leaves. Produces a dramatic, 6-foot flower stalk with fragrant, creamy-white flowers every 5-7 years.
Size: Grows to about 4.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, with flower stalks reaching up to 6 feet.
Habitat: Found in subalpine meadows, coastal mountains, and dry slopes from British Columbia to California and east to Wyoming.
Growth: Evergreen, clumping habit, and can form large colonies.
Uses
Traditional: Woven into baskets, mats, and clothing; roots used as a hair tonic and for sprains.
Ecological: Provides food (seeds, stalks) and nesting material for birds, deer, elk, and even grizzly bears.
