Eastern Gamagrass, Fakahatchee Grass, Eastern Gamma Grass, Eastern Mock Grama, Coix dactyloides, Tripsacum dactyloides var. occidentale
An interesting plant with an unusual appearance, Tripsacum dactyloides (Eastern Gamma Grass) is a warm season, perennial bunchgrass noted for its 1-3 erect to ascending floral spikes, 10 in. long (25 cm), adorned with orange stamens (male flowers) and purple stigmas (female flowers). On display from mid-spring to early summer, they are carried above a large clump of arching, narrow, flat blades, 12-24 in. long (30-60 cm), with a well-defined midrib. The foliage turns orange-pink in the fall. Eastern Gamma Grass is rhizomatous and naturalizes by creeping rhizomes and self-seeding. Long-lived (up to 50 years), this robust and stately grass can be used as an accent plant, groundcover, or in the perennial border. It is also used as a vegetative barrier for soil erosion control and revegetation. Finally, Eastern Gamma Grass is also suitable as a wildlife habitat for wild animals like quails and prairie chickens. It provides good cover during the winter for grassland sparrows.
Hardiness |
4 - 10 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Ornamental Grasses |
Plant Family | Poaceae |
Common names | Fakahatchee Grass |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
Height |
4' - 8' (120cm - 240cm) |
Spread |
4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
Spacing |
48" - 72" (120cm - 180cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Virginia, West Virginia |
Tolerance | Drought |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
Hardiness |
4 - 10 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Ornamental Grasses |
Plant Family | Poaceae |
Common names | Fakahatchee Grass |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
Height |
4' - 8' (120cm - 240cm) |
Spread |
4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
Spacing |
48" - 72" (120cm - 180cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Virginia, West Virginia |
Tolerance | Drought |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Tripsacum dactyloides (Eastern Gamma Grass) do I need for my garden?
Plant | Quantity | |
---|---|---|
Tripsacum dactyloides (Eastern Gamma Grass) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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