Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) is a true California native and a workhorse in Santa Clara County landscapes. This clumping bunchgrass naturally grows along streams, open woodlands, and grasslands, where it provides habitat and shelter for birds, beneficial insects, and small wildlife. Those tall, arching flower stems? They’re not just pretty, they’re structure in the ecosystem. Growth habit: Deer grass forms a dense, fountain-shaped clump, typically 3–4 ft tall and wide (flower stalks can reac