Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Melica imperfecta (Smallflower melic grass)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Melica imperfecta Trin.

Smallflower melic grass, Coast range melic grass, Smallflower melic, Coast range melic, Oniongrass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

USDA Symbol: meim

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A dense to loose bunchgrass with bright-green leaves and flowering culms to 2 ft. in height. Spikelets are mostly borne in narrow (sometimes open) panicles and are purplish.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: C. & s. CA
Native Habitat: Dry, open, often rocky slopes below 4000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Propagation

Description: Sow seeds in fall.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: No treatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Groundcover for erosion control
September 23, 2008
I live in southern california. What is the best groundcover to plant on a slope to prevent erosion?
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Melica imperfecta in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Melica imperfecta in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Melica imperfecta

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-21
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back