Bear Grass | 50 Seeds

CLASSIFICATION: Xerophyllum tenax (Native) FORM: Basal Rosette | Vertical Spire HEIGHT: 3–5 Feet (In Bloom) ROLE: The Obelisk TIMELINE: Multi-Year Investment

Most perennials are content to stay close to the ground. Bear Grass has vertical aspirations.

A native of the North American west, this plant begins as a dense, unassuming clump of wiry, grass-like leaves. But in early summer, it executes a feat of botanical engineering: sending up a massive, rigid central stalk topped with a torch-like cluster of creamy white flowers.

It stands three to five feet tall—a white obelisk rising from the scrub. It is architectural, imposing, and utterly indifferent to the harsh conditions that surround it.

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THE CURATOR'S NOTES

• Tensile Utility: The leaves are not merely foliage; they are raw material. Historically prized by Native American artisans for their incredible tensile strength, they are the primary component of watertight basketry. You are growing a tool, not just a plant.
• The Patience Filter: Critical. This plant operates on geological time, not Amazon Prime time. It spends its first years building a root system. The spectacular bloom arrives in year two or three. If you require instant gratification, plant a marigold.
• Drainage Ultimatum: It thrives in the rocky, arid soils of the mountains. It despises "wet feet." If you plant it in heavy clay or over-water it, it will rot. Give it grit, give it sun, and leave it alone.
• Germination Protocol: These seeds have evolved to survive mountain winters. They require a Cold Stratification period to simulate the snow melt. Without this chill, they will refuse to wake up.