Bear grass is a big, bold grass-like succulent that makes a statement in any garden. It’s as tough as it is beautiful. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring for this southwest desert native.
Bear grass (Nolina microcarpa) is a striking accent plant native to parts of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. In spite of its name and appearance, bear grass is not a grass — it’s considered a “grass-like” succulent. It’s closely related to agaves and yuccas, and has similar care requirements.
Its thin, leathery leaves have finely serrated edges and fray at the tips to create interesting curlicues.
In late spring, plants sends up tall stalks of creamy white flowers. (Unlike agaves, bear grass blooms every year and does not die after flowering.)
Bear grass is an extremely low-maintenance plant. It’s not particular about sun exposure, needs little water, and can take intense desert heat and cold. It requires almost no pruning, no fertilizer, and produces no obvious litter.
It’s a larval host for some butterflies and when in bloom, it attracts many important pollinators.
Why I Like This Plant
- Dramatic specimen plant
- Looks good all year long
- Takes extreme heat and cold
- Very low-maintenance
- No thorns, no litter, non-toxic
- Attracts bees, moths, butterflies
Things to Watch Out For
Bear grass has no thorns or sharp tips, but the leaf edges are finely serrated and can cut, so handle with care.
Oddly, it’s toxic to sheep and goats, but not to deer that enjoy grazing on it.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a bear grass to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Bear grass should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 – 10. It thrives in desert heat and is cold-hardy down to a frigid -10℉.
Sun Exposure
Bear grass can take full sun but also grows well in part shade. It appreciates some afternoon shade in extremely hot areas.
Size and Growth Rate
Bear grass is a slow-growing plant that ultimately reaches a size of roughly 5 feet tall and wide. Its flower stalks add another 3 feet in height when in bloom. This is a substantial plant, so plan ahead and give it plenty of room to grow.
Soil
In its native habitat, bear grass grows in poor, rocky soil. As a landscape plant, it will grow in any native desert soil, provided it’s well-draining.
Bear Grass:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Bear grass |
| Scientific Name | Nolina microcarpa |
| Origin | Chihuahuan, Sonoran Deserts |
| Plant Type | Grass-like succulent |
| USDA Zones | Zones 6 – 10 |
| Cold Hardiness | To -10℉ |
| Flower Color | Creamy white |
| Flower Season | Late spring, summer |
| Mature Size | 5-7′ high x 4-6’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part, reflected sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | None |
| Cautions | Serrated edges |
| Wildlife | Attracts bees, moths, butterflies |
How to Plant
Dig a hole as deep as and twice as wide as the nursery container. It’s generally recommended that you not add any soft fill, gravel, or fertilizer, just native soil.
However, good drainage is critical. If you know your soil is slow draining, amend with coarse sand or small gravel until you have a loose, well-drained mix.
Carefully remove the plant from the container, put it in the hole, and press the soil to remove any air pockets.
When to Plant
The best time to plant bear grass is April or May. Warm soil temperatures encourage root development.
How to Care for Bear Grass
Whether you’ve recently planted a bear grass or have an existing plant in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water
The Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum recommends watering bear grass every 7 to 10 days for the first few years. Once established, plants should only need watering once or twice per month during the summer. It benefits from water once a month in the winter — either from irrigation or winter rains.
Should You Fertilize?
There is no need to fertilize bear grass, it will get all the nutrients it needs from the surrounding desert soil.
How to Prune
Bear grass doesn’t need pruning and should not be trimmed like a shrub or severely cut back like an ornamental grass.
But as older leaves die, you may want to remove them to keep your plant looking tidy. You’ll also want to remove the large spent flower stalks.
Don’t Confuse Bear Grass With…
There is another plant, Xerophyllum tenax, that goes by the common name bear grass. You aren’t likely to come across it at nurseries, since it’s native to the US Northwest and likes moisture. But you may come across it when searching for information.
Plant Lover Facts
Bear grass is native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts and can be found growing wild in Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico.
It is related to several other popular desert landscape plants — agaves, yuccas, hesperaloe, and desert spoon. These plants all have grass-like leaves, large flower stalks, and are members of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae).
Native Americans found many uses for this plant. They ate the fruit, flower stalks, and seeds, used some parts medicinally, and made soap from the roots. They created baskets, ropes, mats, sandals, brooms, brushes, and thatch roofs from its dried leaves.
Did you enjoy this article?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
where you’ll find more great info on creating &
maintaining a beautiful, carefree desert landscape.
Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
