FNPS Plant Database

Distichlis spicata

saltgrass

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

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:

NA

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

Coming Soon!

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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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:

Citations:

Nelson, Gil.  2003.  Florida's Best Landscape Plants. Association of Florida Native Nurseries.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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