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Native Plant Society of Texas

Texas Wintergrass

Nassella leucotricha

Other common name(s):

Texas tussockgrass, Texas Speargrass, Wintergrass

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Semiarid Edwards Bajada
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

3
to
4
ft.

Spread

1
to
1.5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Clay, Calcareous, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Green, Brown

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Forage, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Browsers, Butterflies

Maintenance

Low maintenance. Initially, keep the soil consistently moist until the grass is established. Once established, it is drought-tolerant but should be watered during prolonged dry spells. Plays a crucial role in erosion control. Its robust root system stabilizes soil, preventing runoff. Native habitat: prairies, brushy areas, roadsides and disturbed areas. Not common in plant nurseries but seeds are available commercially. Propagation: seed, division, cutting.

Comments

Blooms March-June. Has a tufted inflorescence, in a loose panicle, with long with long, slender lower branches. Leaf blades are pubescent with short, stiff hairs on one or both surfaces. Larval host: most branded skippers and most of the satyrs.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Stipa leucotricha, Stipa ciliata

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Plant directly in soil. Under optimal conditions, expect germination within 7 to 14 days. Wait until the seed heads turn brown before harvesting. https://greg.app/texas-wintergrass-overview/#:~:text=%F0%9F%8C%9E%20Texas%20Wintergrass%20thrives%20in,inches%20to%20encourage%20healthy%20growth.
Bud Division Ensure each clump is at least 6 inches in diameter for successful replanting. The best time for division is early spring or fall https://greg.app/texas-wintergrass-overview/#:~:text=%F0%9F%8C%9E%20Texas%20Wintergrass%20thrives%20in,inches%20to%20encourage%20healthy%20growth.
Stem Cutting Aim for a length of 4 to 6 inches and place them in a well-draining potting mix to encourage root development. Take healthy stem cuttings. https://greg.app/texas-wintergrass-overview/#:~:text=%F0%9F%8C%9E%20Texas%20Wintergrass%20thrives%20in,inches%20to%20encourage%20healthy%20growth.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason