Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

maidencane

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Panicum hemitomon

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

grass

Size:

3-4ft, spreads broadly by rhisomes.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

green

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shoreline stabilizer or plant as cover in a pond. Can tolerate wide water level fluctuations. Frequently used in marsh restoration and wetland creation projects.

Considerations:

Has deep, aggressive rhizomes and is difficult to control in a garden setting once established but highly valuable if used for stabilization or marsh restoration.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Specialty Provider

Propagation:

Division.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Stays wet ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Organic

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Mammals

Larval host for clouded skipper ( Lerema accius ) and Delaware skipper ( Anatrytone logan ) butterflies.

Provides cover for small fish and aquatic invertebrates.





Seeds eaten by some birds and small animals.

Native Habitats:

Basin marsh (maidencane marsh), ponds, streams, sloughs, swamps, wet disturbed sites, sandhill. This species may become domininant in wetlands with reduced hydroperiods relative to historic conditions and in natural wetlands with highly variable hydroperiods.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments: