General Landscape Uses:
Dune stabilization.
Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description: Rhizomatous and colonial perennial grass with reddish, arching stems 1.5 feet tall.
Dimensions: Up to 4 feet in height.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Coastal Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle from Escambia to Wakulla counties.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Upper strand of sea beaches, dunes, interdune swales.
Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without a humusy top layer.
Salt Water Tolerance: 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: Frontline; grows in direct salt wind but away from constant salt spray.
Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Flower Color: Purple/bronze.
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy.
Flowering Season: Summer-fall.
References: 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.
