General Landscape Uses:
Accent grass in open coastal uplands.
Availability:
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida. Available in Boynton Beach at
Sustainscape (561-245-5305).
Description: Medium to large herbaceous grass.
Dimensions: Typically 2-5 feet in height; to 6 feet when in flower. Spreading from underground stems (rhizomes) and forming patches broader than tall.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Eastern and southern United States west to New Mexico and south to the Monroe County Keys; Bahamas, Cuba and Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula). Rare in the Monroe County Keys.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Beach dunes and coastal uplands.
Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Frontline; grows in direct salt wind but away from constant salt spray.
Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Flower Color: Light brown inflorescence.
Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season: All year; peak spring-summer.
Fruit: Inconspicuous light brown caryopsis.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
References: EDIS (UF)
Comments: Horticultural synonyms: P. amarulum.
