General Landscape Uses:
Groundcover in sunny moist soils. Wildflower gardens.
Availability:
Widely available in central Florida. Commonly available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in South Florida. Available in Fort Meyers at
Natives of Corkscrew.
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).
