Muhlenbergia rigens

Deer grass is a 3 foot perennial with 2 foot plumes rising above the plant. Muhlenbergia rigens looks like a small pampas grass but without the bad leaf cuts and the aggressive seeding. Native to much of California up into the mountains. Deer grass grows on banks of seasonal creeks, along roads or in gullies where the runoff forms in winter.. Use it in dry stream beds, along driveways or along the street edge to slow the runoff. Much more useful than Pampas grass because of its size.

Deer grass  is native on the Santa Margarita nursery property. The original plants have been here for decades.