Seashore paspalum
Paspalum vaginatum
Poaceae


Landscape Uses:

Coastal lawns and golf courses.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Native plant nurseries.
Description:
Small creeping herbaceous grass.
Height:
Typically 6-12 inches in height; to 2 feet in flower. Spreading and forming large open or dense patches.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Southeastern United States west to Texas and south mostly along the Florida coasts to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Old World.
Habitats:
Wet to moist coastal areas, occasionally inland.
Soils:
Wet to moist, well-drained to inundated sandy, limestone, or organic soils.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
High; tolerates flooding by salt water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Pioneer; grows in unconsolidated substrate in direct salt wind and spray.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
Green inflorescence turning brown.
Flower Characteristics:
Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season:
Spring-fall.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous light brown caryopsis.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed and division.
Comments:
It can be mowed and is being used as a lawn grass in coastal areas.


George D. Gann
In habitat, Delray Beach Municipal Beach, Florida, USA
2 Oct 2015, Enlarge
George D. Gann
In habitat, Delray Beach Municipal Beach, Florida, USA
2 Oct 2015, Enlarge
Keith A. Bradley