Gulf bluestem
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Schizachyrium maritimum
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Poaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Dune stabilization. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Rarely grown by native plant nurseries. |
Description: |
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Rhizomatous and colonial perennial grass with reddish, arching stems 1.5 feet tall. |
Height: |
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Up to 4 feet in height. |
Growth Rate: |
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Moderate. |
Range: |
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Coastal Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle from Escambia to Wakulla counties. |
Habitats: |
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Upper strand of sea beaches, dunes, interdune swales. |
Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without a humusy top layer. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Moderately low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water, but tolerates short term inundation by salt water from storm surge with minimal damage. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Frontline; grows in direct salt wind but away from constant salt spray. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Purple/bronze. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy. |
Flowering Season: |
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Summer-fall. |
Fruit: |
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Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Horticultural Notes: |
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Comments: |
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We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.
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