Saltgrass
Distichlis spicata
Poaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also butterfly gardens in saline areas along the coast.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

A somewhat sporadic element of tidal marshes. The similar looking Sporobolus virginicus is much more common in South Florida.
Availability:
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida.
Description:
Small herbaceous grass.
Height:
About 4-8 inches in height; to 12 inches when in flower. Spreading from underground stems (rhizomes) and forming large patches.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Widespread in North America south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America.
Habitats:
Tidal marshes.
Soils:
Wet to moist, regularly inundated saline soils.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
High; tolerates flooding by salt water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
Gray-green inflorescence.
Flower Characteristics:
Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season:
All year; peak spring-fall.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous light brown caryopsis.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Provides food for birds. Larval host plant for obscure skipper (Panoquina panoquinoides) and saltmarsh skipper (Panoquina panoquin) butterflies.
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed or divisions.
Comments:


George D. Gann
in habitat, New Providence, Bahamas, 2012
George D. Gann
in habitat, New Providence, Bahamas, 2012
Susan Trammell
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton