FNPS Plant Database

Oplismenus setarius

bristle basketgrass

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

bristle basketgrass

Synonym(s):

Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. setarius

Genus species:

Oplismenus setarius

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

grass

Size:

0.3 ft tall by spreading many ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

This is a low groundcover that can be effective seasonally as a low-use turf in shady locations.

Considerations:

Unfortunately, this low growing grass is not visible during winter-spring, so its use is somewhat restricted to areas where this is not an issue.

Availability:

Seed, Friends

Propagation:

Division, seed.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A

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



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

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars

Larval host for Carolina satyr ( Hermeuptychia sosbius ) butterfliy ( IRC )

Native Habitats:

Moist sites. Shade. Moist hammocks.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

There is potential name confusion with this species since it was formerly considered to be a subspecies of O. hirtellus (Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. setarius) The Florida Plant Atlas indicates that Oplismenus setarius is common in Florida. O. hirtellus (not the subspecies) has been documented from only one Florida county, and it is a non-native.

Citations:

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.

Request an update