Big Squirreltail

Planting

Plant Big Squirreltail in full sun and fast-draining soil - it's even tolerant of serpentine soil if that's what you're working with in your Bay Area garden. Since this is a perennial grass native to the western U.S., plant it in fall or early spring when soil moisture is naturally higher. The plant reaches about 2 feet tall, so give it room to spread without crowding.

After Planting

Big Squirreltail is extremely drought-tolerant once established, requiring only very low water - think of it as a set-it-and-forget-it plant once it's settled in. This is a deciduous grass, so expect it to die back seasonally; resist the urge to water it during dormancy. The biggest mistake Bay Area gardeners make is overwatering: if your soil drains fast and you've planted in full sun, your new squirreltail will thrive on rainfall alone after the first season.

Birds

higBell's sparrow

Seeds · Year-Round

Primary seed forager in coastal sage scrub and grassland habitats where Elymus occurs

higCalifornia quail

Seeds · Year-Round

Staple seed food resource; important for winter survival and breeding season

higWhite-crowned Sparrow

Seeds · Fall

Important seed resource during fall migration and winter; primary forage in chaparral and grassland

Insects

higOlive Hemileuca moth

Larval Host · Spring

Larvae feed on Elymus species in spring; critical early season host plant

modCovered smut

Foliage · Year-Round

Fungal pathogen affects seed heads and tillers

Mammals

modBlack-tailed Jackrabbit

Foliage · Spring

Spring growth provides nutritious forage when other vegetation is limited