FNPS Plant Database

Sporobolus junceus

pineywoods dropseed
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

pineywoods dropseed

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Sporobolus junceus

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

grass

Size:

1-2 (3) ft tall by 1-2 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

pink

Fruit Color:

gold, brown

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Bunching grass in a wildflower garden. Border of walkways. This is a low plant, so best used near the front of a group planting.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Seed. Division. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

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



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Native Habitats:

Flatwoods, sandhills.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

In nature, this grows in habitats with frequent fire.  In the garden, it will grow best if you remove built-up thatch (or burn it once every few years if you can).

Citations:

Huegel, Craig, N.  2012.  Native wildflowers and other ground covers for Florida landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



https://regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Sporjunc



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native Plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



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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