+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ## nodding needlegrass {#nodding-needlegrass .Title-Header}           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Nasella cernua* (Stebbins & R.M. Love) Barkworth                     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Plant Symbol = NACE                                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Contributed by: USDA NRCS California State Office and Lockeford Plant
Materials Center, California

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="2.667361111111111in"
height="4.000694444444444in"}

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

##### *Stipa cernua*, nodding stipa {#stipa-cernua-nodding-stipa .Header-3}

#####  {#section .Header-3}

**Uses**

##### Nodding needlegrass is used for restoration, critical area planting, cover crop, and wildlife habitat. It is probably one of the best grasses available for use in harsh conditions, such as subsoils, low fertility soils, hot ant dry meadows, roadcuts, and roadsides. It also provides good early forage for grazing animals. {#nodding-needlegrass-is-used-for-restoration-critical-area-planting-cover-crop-and-wildlife-habitat.-it-is-probably-one-of-the-best-grasses-available-for-use-in-harsh-conditions-such-as-subsoils-low-fertility-soils-hot-ant-dry-meadows-roadcuts-and-roadsides.-it-also-provides-good-early-forage-for-grazing-animals. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

Grass Family (Poacae). Nodding needlegrass is a native, long-lived, cool
season tufted perennial bunchgrass. It is very similar to *Nassella
pulchra* (purple needlegrass), but is generally smaller, with finer leaf
blades, and the terminal segment of the awn flexuous. It also produces
more flower spikes. The basal leaf blades are numerous, narrow, and
glaucus.

**Distribution**

Nodding needlegrass is found is the southwestern United States in lower
elevations with a coastal influence. For current distribution, please
consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

**Adaptation**

In California, this grass is especially adapted to sandy, well-drained,
loamy soils, but will tolerate rocky soil. It is native to chaparral and
dry slopes in lower elevations. It thrives in full sun, and also grows
in partial shade. It will tolerate heat and wind.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

##### Nodding needlegrass does well in disturbed sites and is valuable for erosion control, because of its strong root system. However, it does not tolerate disturbance after planting. It will go dormant after flowering without additional water (facultatively dormant), and does best with no summer water after the first year in the ground. Small amounts of routine watering may keep it green all year, but may also kill it. It is very drought tolerant, and intolerant of flooding. In dense stands, it can completely inhibit certain weeds, such as yellow starthistle. Abundant seed production is usually what helps maintain natural stands in non-grazed or lightly grazed areas. Plants need some protection from grazing during flowering to ensure seed formation and food storage in the crown. Once established, it is generally fire tolerant, but not fire resistant. The season of a burn is the most important factor in determining the severity of the effects on the plants. It will re-sprout after spring or fall burns, but summer burns can be damaging. Smaller plants are often less damaged by fire than larger plants because they burn less intensely and don't smolder for long periods of time. {#nodding-needlegrass-does-well-in-disturbed-sites-and-is-valuable-for-erosion-control-because-of-its-strong-root-system.-however-it-does-not-tolerate-disturbance-after-planting.-it-will-go-dormant-after-flowering-without-additional-water-facultatively-dormant-and-does-best-with-no-summer-water-after-the-first-year-in-the-ground.-small-amounts-of-routine-watering-may-keep-it-green-all-year-but-may-also-kill-it.-it-is-very-drought-tolerant-and-intolerant-of-flooding.-in-dense-stands-it-can-completely-inhibit-certain-weeds-such-as-yellow-starthistle.-abundant-seed-production-is-usually-what-helps-maintain-natural-stands-in-non-grazed-or-lightly-grazed-areas.-plants-need-some-protection-from-grazing-during-flowering-to-ensure-seed-formation-and-food-storage-in-the-crown.-once-established-it-is-generally-fire-tolerant-but-not-fire-resistant.-the-season-of-a-burn-is-the-most-important-factor-in-determining-the-severity-of-the-effects-on-the-plants.-it-will-re-sprout-after-spring-or-fall-burns-but-summer-burns-can-be-damaging.-smaller-plants-are-often-less-damaged-by-fire-than-larger-plants-because-they-burn-less-intensely-and-dont-smolder-for-long-periods-of-time. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

##### Nodding needlegrass will withstand mowing, especially after seed set and some traffic. It also requires some protection from grazing during the flowering period (late May-April).  {#nodding-needlegrass-will-withstand-mowing-especially-after-seed-set-and-some-traffic.-it-also-requires-some-protection-from-grazing-during-the-flowering-period-late-may-april. .Header-3}

**Seeds and Plant Production**

Abundant seed matures in mid to late spring, with collection possible
for 2 - 3 weeks. There are between 118,000 and 250,000 seeds/lb., and if
planted at a rate of 1 lb./acre, there will be approximately 4.3
seeds/square feet. Sharp points on the seeds are augured into the soil
by the twisting action of the awns. Also, seed can be harvested using a
flow-vac or combine.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

'LK415f' Germplasm: Collected from San Luis Obispo County, California;
Trusedale and Shells Roads. Township 27S and Range 15E Section 10.
Elevation is approximately 1200 feet. Mean annual precipitation is 12-20
inches. Mean annual temperature is 60 degrees F.

#####  {#section-3 .Header-3}

##### References {#references .Header-3}

##### Clunet.edu. 2005. *Wildflowers of California: A photographic gallery*. Accessed: 12 Sep 2005. [**http://ww1.clunet.edu/wf/chap/common/bjc-1404.htm**](http://ww1.clunet.edu/wf/chap/common/bjc-1404.htm).  {#clunet.edu.-2005.-wildflowers-of-california-a-photographic-gallery.-accessed-12-sep-2005.-httpww1.clunet.eduwfchapcommonbjc-1404.htm. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-4 .Header-3}

##### USDA NRCS. *Notice of release of foothill needlegrass for major land resource area 15f selected class of natural germplasm LK415f germplasm*. Lockeford, CA. {#usda-nrcs.-notice-of-release-of-foothill-needlegrass-for-major-land-resource-area-15f-selected-class-of-natural-germplasm-lk415f-germplasm.-lockeford-ca. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-5 .Header-3}

##### Wrysinski, Jeanette. 2000. *Know Your Natives: A Pictorial Guide to California Native Grasses*. Yolo County Resource Conservation District, Woodland, California. {#wrysinski-jeanette.-2000.-know-your-natives-a-pictorial-guide-to-california-native-grasses.-yolo-county-resource-conservation-district-woodland-california. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-6 .Header-3}

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

Dave Dyer, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Lockeford, and Reina
O'Beck, California State Office, Davis, California.

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

##### Dave Dyer, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Lockeford, California. {#dave-dyer-usda-nrcs-plant-materials-center-lockeford-california. .Header-3}

##### Edited: 12Sep2005 ro; 23sep05 jsp {#edited-12sep2005-ro-23sep05-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at
202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.