FNPS Plant Database

Chasmanthium latifolium

Indian woodoats, spikegrass
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Indian woodoats, spikegrass

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Chasmanthium latifolium

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

Grass

Size:

2–4 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

green

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Groundcover or border plant in shady areas.

Considerations:

It reseeds easily and can expand aggressively.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

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

□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□

Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

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, Loam

Soil pH:

Neutral to slightly acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
Click a county The county name will appear here.
No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for pepper and salt skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon), common roadside skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis), and Bell's roadside skipper (Amblyscirtes belli). Possible host for Carolina satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius).

Birds and other wildlife consume seed.

Native Habitats:

Dry-moist sites. Bluffs, floodplains, wet hammocks

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Seed stalks are attractive in flower arrangements.

General Comments:

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Minno, Marc and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P, B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

Request an update