I have a nice photo of a stand of bear grass that I took on Mt Hood a couple of summers ago. When I figure out how to post it to the wiki I will. It is easy to see that it grows in volcanic rock and pumice. The site was not much lower down than Timberline Lodge which I think is at 6000 ft. There is also a fine photo on the cover of Bulbs of North America which Jane McGary edited. Dell -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of janemcgary@earthlink.net Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 2:56 PM To: Pacific Bulb Society Subject: Re: [pbs] Xerophyllum tenax Marie-Paule asked,>I have tried this plant a few times, but after a while they become yellow >leaves and passed on to the plant haven!! > >Do they need much water? Or what soil do they need? Can anyone help? > Xerophyllum tenax (beargrass) typically grows in coniferous forests on slopes or, at least, in very well drained soils, full of rocks and gravel. It can grow in shade but usually flowers better in sun, when forest fires or logging removes nearby trees. Wild plants do not flower every year. It grows within the elevation zone where there is snow all winter, so it's pretty dry except in fall before the snow comes, and in spring when the snow melts it is quite moist, though fast draining. It does not get much water in summer because it does not rain much then, and there are trees nearby. This plant is difficult to grow and is not seen in gardens at low elevations, even very near where it grows in nature. I can drive 20 minutes and be where it grows, but I don't think I could grow it in my garden, which is just below the usual snow line. It is also known to be very difficult to transplant. Jane McGary Northwestern Oregon, USA _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/