• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • News
  • General Store
  • Little House on the Prairie Books
    • Little House in the Big Woods
    • Farmer Boy
    • Little House on the Prairie
    • On the Banks of Plum Creek
    • By the Shores of Silver Lake
    • The Long Winter
    • Little Town on the Prairie
    • These Happy Golden Years
    • The First Four Years
    • On the Way Home
    • West From Home
    • Boxed Sets & Special Editions
  • Other Little House Books
    • Little House Chapter Books
  • Other Series
    • The Martha Years – Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Great Grandmother
    • The Charlotte Years – Laura’s Grandmother
    • The Caroline Years – Little House Series about Laura’s Mother
    • The Rose Years – Books About Laura’s Daughter
  • Teachers & Homeschool Printables
    • Little House in the Big Woods
    • Farmer Boy
    • Little House on the Prairie
    • On the Banks of Plum Creek
    • By the Shores of Silver Lake
    • The Long Winter
    • Little Town on the Prairie
    • These Happy Golden Years
    • The First Four Years
    • Entire Series Worksheets
    • Unit Studies For Homeschoolers & Teachers
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Music
  • Crafts & Activities
  • Recipes
  • Research
  • Family & Friends
  • TV Series
    • Frequently Asked Questions About Little House on the Prairie TV Series
  • Historical Sites
    • Pepin, Wisconsin
    • Rothville, Missouri
    • Independence, Kansas
    • Walnut Grove, Minnesota
    • Burr Oak, Iowa
    • De Smet, South Dakota
    • Vinton, Iowa
    • Spring Valley, Minnesota
    • Westville, Florida
    • Mansfield, Missouri
    • Malone, New York
    • Cuba, New York
    • Keystone, South Dakota
    • Pomona, California

Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House on the Prairie Definitive Guide

Laura Ingalls Wilder & the Little House Books

Home » Frequently Asked Questions About Laura Ingalls Wilder & Little House Books » What is Spanish Needle Grass in Little Town on the Prairie?

What is Spanish Needle Grass in Little Town on the Prairie?

During little town on the Prairie, Laura took Mary out for a walk on the prairie one day. However, while they were walking, the girls ended up with a strange kind of grass that was burrowing into their stockings and dresses. What was very unusual about this grass was that when they tried to pull it out of their stockings and dress, it has a little Barb on it which made it very difficult for it to be pulled out, and it ended up actually acting like a corkscrew and twisting further into their clothing.

When Charles Ingalls arrived home at lunch that day, they told him about the strange grass they discovered and when he looked at it, he called it Spanish needle grass.

Spanish needle grass isn’t actually a grass at all but it is technically a weed. When it blooms it has white petals. It is also considered to be useful for a variety of herbal remedies as well. However, the Ingalls family knew it as being a pest because it could actually kill farm animals if it buried into their skin or their mouths. 

Laura showed Pa where the Spanish needle grass was as it was very important that they removed it from their farmland so that it didn’t injure their animals. He went and burned the grass and the surrounding needles because in the book he said that they believe it can be killed when you burn it while it’s green.

What makes this episode of note in the books is that Ma remarks it often feels like they are fighting the prairie all the time even though it looks so beautiful and gentle.

Laura also included this episode with the Spanish needles in her original pioneer girl manuscript as well. 

Share your love of Little House

Related Posts:

  • Chapter Nine Going to Town Worksheet Little Town in the Big Woods
    Chapter Nine Going to Town Worksheet Little Town in the Big…
  • Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
    Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
  • Town Party, Country Party - Little House on the Prairie TV Episode
    Town Party, Country Party - Little House on the Prairie TV…
  • Songs from Little Town on the Prairie
    Songs from Little Town on the Prairie
  • Was Mankato a Real Town in Little House on the Prairie?
    Was Mankato a Real Town in Little House on the Prairie?
  • Little Town on the Prairie for Homeschoolers and Teachers
    Little Town on the Prairie for Homeschoolers and Teachers

Primary Sidebar

General Store

  • Biographies, Research, Letters & Articles (32)
  • Collectibles (23)
  • Collector Books & Boxed Sets (9)
  • Cookbooks (5)
  • Crafts (6)
  • Dolls (21)
  • Home Decor (2)
  • Homeschool Resources (22)
  • Laura Ingalls Wilder Quilting Patterns & Fabric (18)
  • Little House Book Series (1)
  • Little House on the Prairie TV Series (19)
  • Other Pioneer Books (19)
  • Pioneer Clothing for Cosplay, Reenactments, Dressing Up & Costumes (126)
  • Pioneer Food (11)
  • Pioneer Living (8)
  • Related Little House Book Series (5)
  • Sewing Patterns (15)

Free Little House in the Big Woods Unit Study

… Our free exclusive unit study for Little House in the Big Woods with 32 worksheets plus additional activities, recipes, songs and more. about Free Little House in the Big Woods Unit Study

Sew Little House Costumes

… Patterns for making pioneer dresses, bonnets, aprons and mores for women & girls about Sewing Little House on the Prairie Pioneer Costumes

Little House Collector’s Editions

… Discover special editions and boxed sets of the Little House Books about Boxed Sets & Special Editions of the Little House Books

Some of our posts contain affiliate links and we will receive an affiliate commission for purchases. This is a great way to support what we do and see more great content!

Copyright © 2022 · Lifestyle Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Visit our new General Store for books about Laura and pioneer life, along with DVDs, pioneer food, sewing and quilting. Dismiss