Imperata brevifolia is a species of grass known by the common name California satintail.

It is also native to northern Mexico, where it grows in arid regions where water is available.

Imperata brevifolia is a perennial grass growing from a hard rhizome to heights near 1.5 meters.

The inflorescence is a narrow, cylindrical white plume up 10 to 30 centimeters long.

It is filled thickly with silky white hairs and dotted with dark speckles which are the orange-brown anthers and purplish-brown stigmas of the spikelets.