Native Plants

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Native Grasses

Native Grasses

Scientific Name	Common Name	Type	Height	Habitat	Color	Bloom Time	Exposure	Features

Andropogon gerardii	Big Bluestem	Perennial	5-8'	Average; drought-tolerant; prairies, swales, open woods	Bluegreen in summer; orange brown in fall	Aug.-Oct.	Full sun	Upright form. Grown for its lush summer foliage and reliabel fall and winter color. Adaptable, care free. For naturalizing or as backdrop of flowering plants.
Andropogon glomeratus	Bushy BroomSedge	Perennial	4-6'	Moist areas; roadsides, moist pine lands, dithces.	Bluegreen; Red brown Fall	Aug.-Oct.	Full - part sun	Ornamental grass with showy plumes that turn rust color in late fall or early winter. Used in golf courses, around pond edges, stream banks, and other wet sites.
Andropogon virginicus	BroomSedge	Perennial	2-5'	Dry fields, upper shores of ponds	Gold, brown Fall color	Sept.-Oct.	Full - part sun	Can be invasive on disturbed lands. Striking fall and winter color when sunlight hits the fine hairs.
Calamagrostis cinnoides	Reed Grass	Perennial	4-6'	Wet areas	Yellow green	July-Oct.	Full sun	Long, upright narrow leaves. Grows in open areas.
Muhlenbergia filipes	Sweetgrass	Perennial	2'	Dry-wet	Pink plumes	July-Nov.	Full sun	Used for basket weaving, esp. in South Carolina. Winter hardy, aromatic. Moderate life span and growth rate. Beautiful pink fall color with wavy textures.
Panicum amarum	Bitter Panicgrass	Perennial	3-5'	Sand dune areas	Yellow (inconcpicuous)	July-Oct.	Full sun	Coarse foliage texture. Long life span. Very drought-tolerant. Attracts birds.
Panicum virgatum	Switch Grass	Perennial	3-6'	Dry and wet habitats; prairies and dry fields	Pinkpurple plumes	June-Oct.	Full sun - part shade	Grows in large clumps, like most grasses. Often used for restoration and erosion control. Adds fall color to naturalistic borders. Great wildlife plant.
Sorghastrum sp.	Indian Grass	Perennial	3-8'	Dry areas; prairies and dry fields	Golden brown	Sept.-Oct.		Tall, graceful stature. Beautiful metallic golden sheen. Loved by livestock.
Spartina patens	Salt Hay, Saltmeadow Cord Grass	Perennial	1-3'	Wet, sandy soils; Saline marshes, sandy meadows	Yellow	June-Sept.	Part sun	Narrow blades. Often used for beach front stabilization. Attracts birds.
Uniola paniculata	Sea Oats	Perennial	4-6'	Moist, fertile, sandy soil; sand dunes	Yellowbeige	June-Sept.	Full - part sun	Usually is the most conspicuous plant growing on the sand dunes behind wave-washed beaches. Cut to ground in winter. Root system helps reduce erosion. Can be invasive, but worth the effort.