// SPECIES PROFILE · GRASS · NATIVE

Red three-awn

Aristida purpurea var. longiseta

Red three-awn (Aristida purpurea var. longiseta) is a grass in the — family. Native range includes KS, OK. Hardy in zones 2a–11a. Blooms Mar–Apr.

// QUICK FACTS

Family: —
Group: grass
Native range: Native to 22 U.S. states, including AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, KS…
USDA hardiness: Zones 2a–11a
Mature size: —
Sun: Full sun
Water: Low · xeric
Bloom: Mar–Apr
Wildlife value: Pollinator and wildlife support
Ecological role: native species profile

Red three-awn (Aristida purpurea var. longiseta) — *Aristida purpurea var. longiseta* — Red three-awn. Photo via iNaturalist — no rights reserved.

Field Notes

[ growing · ecology · siting · care ]

Red three-awn (Aristida purpurea var. longiseta) is a grass in the — family. Native range includes KS, OK. Hardy in zones 2a–11a. Blooms Mar–Apr. Low water use makes it a strong candidate for xeric and drought-conscious plantings.

Why it's on this list: native species profile. Native-range data from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (NPIN), cross-checked against iNaturalist observations. Part of Rooted Revival's regional native plant catalog — true natives for Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas.

Companion Planting

[ guild · polyculture · cross-layer pairings ]

In the same native range, red three-awn pairs naturally with: Awlfruit sedge (Carex stipata), Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), Purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea), Smooth brome (Bromus inermis).