A native bunchgrass that shrugs off cold and wind, if you give it summer water.
Get a Free Planting PlanYes. Deer grass is one of the most dependable ornamental grasses for the High Desert: it is a California native, hardy to -10F, and takes full sun and reflected heat. It does need moderate summer water here, usually a deep drip soak every week or two, or the foliage browns out.
Top photo: Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ornamental grass · Muhlenbergia rigens · Also called Deergrass, Deer Muhly · California native bunchgrass, found across the Southwest up to 7,000 ft
| Deer Grass at a glance in the High Desert | |
|---|---|
| Type and size at maturity | Clumping perennial bunchgrass, 4 to 5 ft tall and wide (MSWN). Calscape lists 4 to 5 ft tall and 4 ft wide (Calscape) [2] |
| Growth rate | Fast [2] |
| Water once established | Moderate (WUCOLS IV, Region 5, High and Intermediate Desert). Rated low in coastal and Central Valley regions [3] |
| Sun | Full sun and reflected heat; tolerates part shade [2] |
| Cold hardiness | -10F, USDA zone 6 [2] |
| Heat | Takes full sun and reflected heat, but the foliage browns out if it does not get enough water in summer [2] |
| Soil | Tolerates sand and clay; does best in sandy soil [1] |
| Bloom | Slender tan flower spikes in fall (MSWN). Calscape lists spring flowering in the wild (Calscape) [2] |
| Pets | Not listed by the ASPCA; check with your vet [4] |
| Wildlife | Host plant for 6 native caterpillar species, including the umber skipper butterfly; birds eat the seed [1] |
| Rabbits and deer | Listed as deer resistant. No rabbit rating found [1] |
| Where it fits | Softens boulders and cacti in desert gardens; good around water features and on banks [2] |
Cold is not a concern. Mountain States Wholesale Nursery rates deer grass to -10F, USDA zone 6, and notes that it grows wild across the Southwest up to 7,000 feet. The Victor Valley is zone 8b, with an average coldest night between 15F and 20F and record lows near 0F, so deer grass has plenty of margin. Our frost dates and growing zones guide has the local numbers.
Heat is where you have to pay attention. MSWN says deer grass thrives in full sun and reflected heat, next to walls and driveways, but also that the foliage browns out if it goes without enough water in summer. Victorville’s July highs average about 97F, so a deer grass left on a rain-only diet will look straw-colored by August.
Wind is part of the appeal. A mature clump is 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, and the fine leaves move in the spring wind without breaking. Deer grass does not have a trunk or woody branches, so there is nothing for a March wind storm to snap.
Deer grass is not fussy about soil. Calscape lists it as tolerant of sand and clay, with a preference for sandy soil, and MSWN says it handles virtually any soil. That is good news on High Desert lots, where the ground runs from loose sand to hard, alkaline caliche.
Fall is the best time to plant. Roots grow through the cool months and the plant is ready for summer heat. Spring planting also works after the median last freeze around March 18 in Victorville. One gallon plants are fine; MSWN rates the growth rate as fast, so small plants catch up quickly.
WUCOLS IV rates deer grass as moderate water in Region 5, the High and Intermediate Desert. The same database rates it low in the coastal and Central Valley regions, and Calscape says summer water can drop to once a month once established. Those lower numbers fit milder climates. In Hesperia or Apple Valley, with 5.57 inches of rain a year, plan on more.
Use drip, not spray. MSWN points out that deer grass can reseed when it is watered with overhead irrigation, and drip keeps seedlings from popping up in gravel. Put two emitters on each plant so the whole root zone gets wet. Our High Desert irrigation guide covers emitter sizing and run times.
MSWN calls deer grass the backbone of many desert gardens, and it earns that. The soft, gray-green mound gives a rock yard some movement and breaks up hard lines.
It is also a real habitat plant. Calscape lists deer grass as host to six native caterpillar species, including the umber skipper, and birds eat the seed in summer.
Deer grass is a good replacement for Mexican feather grass, which Cal-IPC lists as invasive in California. For more ideas, see our xeriscaping guide.
Cut back in early spring, before new growth, to a few inches above the ground if the clump looks tired. Check drip emitters and flush the lines.
Water deeply every week or two so the leaves stay green. Browning in July or August means the plant needs more water.
Tan flower spikes appear. Best time to plant new deer grass. If a clump gets unruly, Calscape says it can be cut back in fall.
Leave the clump alone until the spring cutback. Water about once a month in dry spells.
Deer grass handles drought, but WUCOLS IV rates it moderate water in the High Desert. Without summer water the leaves brown out. A deep drip soak every week or two in summer keeps it green.
Mountain States Wholesale Nursery rates deer grass to -10F, USDA zone 6. That is well below any cold the Victor Valley has recorded, so freeze damage is not a concern.
Deer grass is not listed by the ASPCA as toxic or non-toxic. Check with your vet if your dog chews on plants.
Fast. Mountain States Wholesale Nursery rates it as fast growing, so small nursery plants catch up quickly with regular summer water.
Fall is best, so roots grow through the cool months. Spring planting also works once the last freeze has passed, which is around March 18 in Victorville in a typical year.
We checked every number on this page against the public sources below. If a rule or date changes, the agency page is the final word.
Monarch designs and installs rockscape, drip irrigation and drought-tolerant plantings across the High Desert. We will check sun, wind and soil on your lot and tell you where a plant will do well and where it will struggle.
Get a Free Planting PlanOr call (760) 792-7627
