FNPS Plant Database

Spartina alterniflora

saltmarsh cordgrass, smooth cordgrass

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

saltmarsh cordgrass, smooth cordgrass

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Spartina alterniflora

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

grass

Size:

2-6 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Used for shoreline protection. A major saltmarsh plant. Useful for erosion control.

Considerations:

Availability:

Propagation:

Division or seed.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Stays wet ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

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



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds

Larval food for Louisiana eyed silkmoth ( Automeris louisiana )

Birds and other animals eat the seeds.

Native Habitats:

Salt marsh, tidal flats, beaches.

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 ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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