Grow beargrass from seed by soaking it, then keeping it cold and moist about 14 weeks before you sow it shallow. A plug takes about 15 months. Wild offshoots fail in pots, so start with seed.
Soak the seed, then keep it cold and moist about 14 weeks
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Soak | Soak the seed in water about 24 hours | Do not sow bone-dry seed straight from the packet and expect a fast crop |
| Chill | Keep it cold and moist about 14 weeks, around 38°F | Do not skip the chill, or keep the bag in a hot room |
| Mix | Use moist peat, vermiculite, or a similar damp medium in a sealed bag | Do not let the medium dry out during the wait |
| Time | Plan on about four months of cold before sowing | Do not throw the bag out after one quiet month |
beargrass seed needs a long cold, moist wait before it will sprout. Soak it in water about 24 hours, then bury the seed in moist vermiculite or peat in a sealed bag in the refrigerator. [1] Keep that bag around 38°F for about 120 days. Check weekly and pick out any seed that has already sprouted. [2] Seed from high elevations may need a little longer, about 16 weeks. See How to Grow Beargrass for the grown fountain. Do not collect seed from wild stands unless you have permission; use a nursery packet. [3]
- Soak the seed in water about 24 hours.
- Place it in moist vermiculite or peat in a sealed bag, and keep the bag in the refrigerator.
- Leave it cold and moist about 14 weeks (around 120 days at about 38°F). High-elevation seed may need about 16 weeks.
- Check weekly. Sow any sprouted seed at once, and sow the rest when the wait is over.
How long do I chill beargrass seed?
About 14 weeks, cold and moist, around 38°F. Soak it first for about 24 hours.
Sow it shallow in an airy mix; a plug takes about 15 months
Sow the chilled seed on an airy mix that drains, and cover it with a thin perlite mulch rather than burying it deep. Keep the mix just moist, and let the surface dry slightly between waterings so the young taproot does not rot. A plug with a firm root system takes about 15 months, sometimes two seasons in a larger pot. [4] Seed is the reliable way to raise new plants. Offshoots dug from the wild fail in containers, so do not lift a mountain clump to fill a pot. Once the plug is firm, plant it out in sun on soil that drains, the same way you would a nursery plant.
- Sow the chilled seed on the surface of an airy mix, and cover it with a thin perlite mulch.
- Keep the mix just moist. Let the surface dry slightly between waterings.
- Grow it on in a pot for about 15 months, until the roots fill the plug.
- Plant the plug out in sun on drained soil. Do not dig wild offshoots to skip the wait.
How deep do I sow beargrass seed?
Shallow. Set it on airy mix and cover it with a thin perlite mulch. Do not bury it deep.
If nothing sprouts after a cold wait in moist mix, the seed probably dried out or skipped the chill. Start a fresh packet, soak it, and keep it cold and moist about 14 weeks before you sow again.
FAQ
Can I divide a garden clump?
Wild offshoots fail in pots, so do not dig a mountain plant. Buy seed or a nursery plant. A garden clump will make offsets on its own after it flowers; leave those in the bed.
Do I need smoke on the seed?
A smoke-water soak before the chill has helped some low-elevation seed, but it is optional. The cold, moist wait is the step you should not skip.
How long until it flowers?
Seedlings take several years to bloom. Site the grown plant in sun on a drain — see How to Grow Beargrass.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=XETE - [2] Native Plant Network -
https://npn.rngr.net/renderNPNProtocolDetails?selectedProtocolIds=liliaceae-xerophyllum-4088 - [3] NRCS Plant Guide -
https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_xete.pdf - [4] Native Plant Network -
https://npn.rngr.net/renderNPNProtocolDetails?selectedProtocolIds=liliaceae-xerophyllum-125
This note is part of Xerophyllum Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors