General Landscape Uses:
Groundcover in sunny moist soils. Wildflower gardens.
Availability:
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida.
Description: Medium herbaceous grass.
Dimensions: About 2-3 feet in height. About as broad as tall, or somewhat broader.
Growth Rate: Fast.
Range:
Eastern, central and southern North America, and scattered nearly throughout Florida south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties; Mexico.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Pinelands and open, disturbed sites.
Soils: Moist to wet, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Flower Color: Purple inflorescence.
Flower Characteristics: Showy inflorescence.
Flowering Season: Summer-fall.
Fruit: Inconspicuous caryopsis.
Wildlife and Ecology: Attracts pollinators.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
References: Miami-Dade County Landscape Manual
(2005).
