General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description: Rhizomatous perennial herb up to 4.5 feet tall with linear, grass-like leaves. Solitary stems have compound spikelets at the top.
Dimensions: Up to 4.5 feet in height.
Range:
Coastal Atlantic and Gulf. Scattered in the panhandle and north Florida, south through all of peninsular Florida except Hardee and Hendry counties.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Brackish or freshwater marshes and hammocks
Soils: Moist to wet, seasonally inundated well-drained sandy soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance: Moderate; tolerates brackish water or occasional inundation by salt water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: Green, yellow, brown.
Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous
Fruit: Brown achenes.
References: Wunderlin and Hansen (
2011), Godfrey and Wooten 1979
Comments: 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.
