The first time I ever saw bear grass was while hiking in Idaho’s panhandle some years ago. I was standing in a field of lovely white blooming plants that resembled grass and didn’t know what type of plant it was. It was bear grass, not really grass at all but a member of the lily family. I’ve since seen it blooming in Montana and British Columbia as well.
Bear grass grows to a height almost 1.5 m (4.5 ft). It’s grassy leaves are tough and stringy and have rough edges; they were dried and used by native Indians to make baskets. Its creamy white flowers grow on a stalk that can reach a height of 2 m (> 6 ft). The plant is found in open areas of forest and meadows in sub alpine locations, often where alpine larch grow. It’s fire-resistant and is quick to repopulate an area cleared by a forest fire. Bear grass blooms in 5 to 7 year cycles. After the fruit sets, the plant dies.
