FNPS Plant Database

Spartina spartinae

gulf cordgrass
  • Photo by: Larry Allain, U.S. Geological Survey

Nomenclature

Common Name:

gulf cordgrass

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Spartina spartinae

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

Grass

Size:

3–5 (6) ft tall by 3–5 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

green

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Primarily useful for coastal restoration projects.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Seed. Division.

Light:

Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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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:

Calcareous (high pH)

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:

Birds

Attracts birds. Nesting and resting habitat.

Native Habitats:

Salt marshes, dunes

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Gann, G.D, C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+). Gulf cordgrass [in] Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Sparspar ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, FL.


Riche’, C. (2020). Plant Guide for Gulf cordgrass [ Spartina spartinae (Trin.) Merr. ex A.S. Hitchc.]. ( https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_spsp.pdf ). Accessed 2026. USDA-Natural
Resources Conservation Service, Golden Meadow Plant Materials Center. Galliano, LA.


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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