FNPS Plant Database

Distichlis spicata

saltgrass
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

saltgrass

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Distichlis spicata

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

Grass

Size:

1–2 ft tall by spreading many ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

green

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Evergreen

Noted For:

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Lawn-like groundcover especially near the edges of salt water.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed or division.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Stays wet -to- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Alkaline

Suitable to Grow In:

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

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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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 obscure skipper (Panoquina panoquinoides) and saltmarsh skipper (Panoquina panoquin).

Birds and other wildlife consume seed.

Native Habitats:

Salt marsh

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. 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.

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