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STIPA cernua 'Benicia' (Nassella c.). Needle grass. A beautiful native grass, growing 2' or more tall. Both leaves and the gracefully arching stems are an attractive blue green color, while the flowering/seeding heads have a beautiful silvery sheen. At the end of each flowering spikelet is a long needle-like extension. This is a particularly beautiful subject for naturalistic meadows, and provides a low-maintenance cover for banks. Sun, reasonably well-drained soil, occasional summer irrigation. Hardy to 15oF. or less.