Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

sugarcane plumegrass

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Saccharum giganteum

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

grass

Size:

2-4 (10) ft tall by 1-3 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant or background plant in moist informal garden. This is a mid-sized bunching grass until the flower stalk shoots up in the fall. Then it sports a tall silvery plume that gradually turns to light brown.

Considerations:

The flower stalks need to be removed once no longer showy.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

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:

acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds

Host plant for the Clouded Skipper butterfly ( Lerema accius )

Birds will eat the seeds.  Provides cover.

Native Habitats:

Flatwoods, marshes, coastal swales, cypress ponds, lake shores, cutthroat seep.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments: