Natives For Your Neighborhood
Conservation of rare plants, animals, and ecosystems

General Landscape Uses: Borders, edges.

Availability: Available at native plant nurseries in northeast and central Florida.

Description: Perennial grass with stems 2-5 feet tall and flat leaf blades 4 inches to 1 foot long. Panicle 6-18 inches long with purple spikelets.

Dimensions: Typically 3-5 feet tall, as tall or taller than broad.

Range: Eastern, central, and southern United States south to Dade county.

 Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.

 Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.

Habitats: Fields.

Soils: Moist to somewhat dry, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humusy top layer.

Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.

Salt Wind Tolerance: Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.

Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.

Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.

Flower Color: Purple.

Flower Characteristics: Showy.

Flowering Season: Fall.

Wildlife and Ecology: Larval host plant for clouded skipper (Lerema accius) butterflies.

References: Britton and Brown (1970)

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.