Saltgrass
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Distichlis spicata
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Poaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also butterfly gardens in saline areas along the coast. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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A somewhat sporadic element of tidal marshes. The similar looking Sporobolus virginicus is much more common in South Florida. |
Availability: |
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Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida. |
Description: |
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Small herbaceous grass. |
Height: |
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About 4-8 inches in height; to 12 inches when in flower. Spreading from underground stems (rhizomes) and forming large patches. |
Growth Rate: |
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Moderate. |
Range: |
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Widespread in North America south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America. |
Habitats: |
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Tidal marshes. |
Soils: |
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Wet to moist, regularly inundated saline soils. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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High; tolerates flooding by salt water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Gray-green inflorescence. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Inconspicuous. |
Flowering Season: |
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All year; peak spring-fall. |
Fruit: |
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Inconspicuous light brown caryopsis. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Provides food for birds. Larval host plant for obscure skipper (Panoquina panoquinoides) and saltmarsh skipper (Panoquina panoquin) butterflies. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed or divisions. |
Comments: |
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George D. Gann in habitat, New Providence, Bahamas, 2012
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George D. Gann in habitat, New Providence, Bahamas, 2012
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