Description
Xerophyllum tenax or bear grass is a spectactular BC native plant that remains uncommon in cultivation, probably because it can take some time to reach flowering size. Bear grass looks like a finely-textured grass or sedge but it is a beautiful flowering plant. Its fine, shiny, toothed, grass-like foliage forms an attractive evergreen mound. Its dramatic cone-shaped flower spikes can reach four feet high, sometimes higher, and look like white torches on its native mountainsides. The flowers are creamy-white, star-shaped, and fragrant. Evenly moist, well-drained, gritty or gravelly soil in part shade to sun. Also known as Indian basket grass, quip-quip, and soap grass. Often listed as hardy to just zone 5 or 6 however this species grows in at least zone 3 in Alberta.
