Danthonia spicata, commonly known as poverty oatgrass, poverty grass, or curly grass, is a resilient, petite, cool-season perennial bunchgrass native throughout most of North America. It earned its common name due to its striking ability to thrive in inhospitable, nutrient-poor, dry, and rocky soils where other vegetation struggles to survive.

Itt forms low, dense tufts of fine, bluish-green foliage. As the older basal leaves age, they dry out, turn a straw-buff color, and tightly curl inward like corkscrews at the base of the plant. This distinct curling makes the grass remarkably easy to identify even when it is dormant or sterile.

The foliage clumps remain low (around 4 to 6 inches), but its delicate, wispy flowering stems rise 6 to 24 inches tall.

It acts as a pioneer species and its seeds can persist for decades in the soil seed bank, rapidly germinating after wildfires or land clearance clear away competing taller vegetation. Because of its deep, fibrous root system and short rhizomes, Danthonia spicata is highly valued for erosion control and soil stabilization on steep or degraded slopes. Landscape designers frequently use it as a low-maintenance native lawn alternative for areas with light foot traffic, or as a delicate accent in rock gardens and dry meadows. It will actually fail to persist if planted in highly fertile or overly pampered garden soils. 

This species grows in full sun to medium, dry shade and can grow in poor, rocky, sandy, or light well-drained soils.

It is considered a dry to medium-dry moisture plant and is highly drought tolerant once established.

It serves as a crucial larval host plant for several butterfly species, including the Indian Skipper and the Chryxus Arctic butterfly.