FNPS Plant Database

Spartina patens

marshhay cordgrass

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

marshhay cordgrass

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Spartina patens

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

grass

Size:

1-3 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Evergreen.

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Use as a shoreling stabilization plant on edges of sand beaches and saltmarsh.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Stays wet ---to--- Usually moist, occasional inundation

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

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



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds

Birds and other animals eat the seeds.

Native Habitats:

Salt and brackish water of shores, farmlands, marshes, dunes.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

If grown in a freshwater environment, S. patens will grow much bigger.

Citations:

salt: https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_sppa.pdf



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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