Bear Grass(Xerophyllum tenax)

What a rush to see this dramatic flower!  I hear that each individual plant blooms once every 5 years or so.  Although it is not widely distributed, you can reasonably hope to see Bear Grass at Double Bow Knot in May and June. 

January

 

 

April

 

 

July

 

 

October

 

 

White flowers

 

 

Field ID Tips

·  Blooms May and June

·  Stems several feet tall, with long thin leaves.

·  Hundreds of white flowers bloom at the end of the stem, working their way up to the tip over time.

 

T13 Beargrass in Glacier National Park Flower Thumb June 10, 2011

 

 

Bear Grass-4 South Mt. Tam Flower Thumb May 07, 2012

 

 

Links:

Cal Photos

Wikipedia

South Mount Tam Flowers

 

Bear Grass-6 South Mt. Tam May 07, 2012

This photo taken in May 2012 at the Double Bow Knot on Railroad Grade.

 

TP13 Beargrass Copy 1 June 10, 2011