FeedbackFlorida-Friendly Landscaping Program Characteristics Fakahatchee grass ( Tripsacum dactyloides) has tall, green, grass-like foliage rising upright to form clumps that are between 4 and 6 feet tall and wide. Growing fakahatchee grass is easy, and once established, this plant will require very little care. Here are some tips to help you care for fakahatchee grass: Perhaps the most critical thing for fakahatchee grass is lots of sunlight. TED. It should also be pruned each year to the ground. Fakahatchee Grass has a very high tolerance to flooding. Once established, this grass can withstand long periods of drought without supplemental watering. The fakahatchee grass is resistant to most pests and diseases. Since many grasses keep their showy flower stalks through the winter, wait to prune until late winter or early spring, just prior to new shoot growth. It should also be pruned each year to the ground. . (doc|docx|pdf|ppt|pptx|xls|xlsx|zip)$/)) { If you have ever noticed a lack of caterpillars in your garden during the winter months, you are not alone. Donate Forum Handbook Support Documents Privacy Policy The flowers of the fakahatchee grass plant are bright yellow, pink, or rust colored and grow in a dense spherical shape. Established plants do not need regular watering, except during periods of drought. Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass, or commonly known as Florida Gamagrass, is a smaller relative of Fakachatchee Grass (Tripacum dactyloides). As an added bonus, Fakahatchee grass is the larval food plant for the Byssus Skipper butterfly. Eastern Gamagrass, Fakahatchee Grass Poaceae (Gramineae) Plant Specifics Landscaping Ecology Distribution and Planting Zones Natural Range in Florida + USDA Zones Suitable to grow in: 10A 10B 8A 8B 9A 9B USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures Comments Sign up! Fakahatchee grass (Tripsacum dactyloides) has tall, green, grass-like foliage rising upright to form clumps that are between 4 and 6 feet tall and wide. Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass works great as an accent in ground cover beds, a stabilizer for banks and steep slopes and a nice edging along streams and ponds. Some of the best ornamental grasses to grow in Florida are Blue love grass, Fakahatchee Grass, Fountain grass, Lemon grass, Muhly grass, and Pampas Grass. if (href.match(/^http/) && !href.match(document.domain)) { It is easy to grow, easy to propagate, and makes a wonderful addition to any garden. It is receptive to cold weather and although it will freeze to the ground, it will return in spring when the temperatures warm up. Choose organic fertilizers as they allow plant roots to absorb and are gentle enough for the entire garden. However, if you do decide to prune it, do so in late winter or early spring when dead or damaged pieces of grass can be removed. Fakahatchee grass can be a great addition to the landscape and requires almost no maintenance. This adaptable plant thrives in tropical and sub-tropical climates with ample rainfall and high levels of humidity, and it produces long, slender leaves that range in color from bright green to reddish-brown. When Fakahatchee Grass is exposed to frosts, the leaves take on shades of red and bronze. Environment: Soil:extended flooding; acidic; slightly alkaline; sand; loam; clay;Salt:moderateExposure: partial sun; partial shade, 7836 Cherry Lake Rd. Monday Saturday: 9:00am 5:00pm | Sunday : 9:00am 4:00pm, 727-295-2885 | nativeplants@wilcoxnursery.com. This plant is available in local nurseries and can easily be propagated by seeds and division. It is a larval plant for checker skipper butterfly and songbird will use the segmented seeds as a food source. autoPlay : 6000, In this way, dwarf fakahatchee grass can help to keep our waterways clean and healthy. With so many types, colors, and sizes of ornamental grasses to choose from it can become overwhelming so listed below are our picks for the 6 best ornamental kinds of grass to grow in Florida. 2014-2023 Wilcox Nursery. Pampas Grass or Cortaderia is a popular and attractive ornamental grass that grows in clumps and displays beautiful feathery plumes that are creamy white in color. There is also a dwarf variety of Fakahatchee grass available for those with a smaller yard. The dense clusters of flowers attract bees and other pollinators, while the leaves provide shelter for small mammals and reptiles. This easy to care for ornamental grass requires pruning each year, and if the soil becomes too dry, it will need watering. While there are many different types of grasses, dwarf fakahatchee grass is unique in its ability to tolerate wet and shady conditions. : Help Your Plant Bloom, How Long Does It Take Clover to Bloom? This is usually performed in late winter or early spring. These include fungal infections and sap-sucking insects. div.gsc-adBlock {display: none; visibility: hidden;!important}, P.O. Distinctive rust-colored flower spikes stand a little taller than the foliage. Have you ever seen dwarf fakahatchee grass before? Florida-Friendly Landscaping in a Minute is a production of the University of Floridas Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program, IFAS Extension, and WUFT-FM in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. For evergreen grasses like Fakahatchee grass, the ragged, dead leaves can be removed by combing the grass with a pitchfork. The fakahatchee grass can grow in various soil types, but it prefers sandy or loamy soils. Once established, Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass care is minimal, requiring little maintenance other than watering in extreme drought. I've also killed a few plants over the years, more than I would like to admit. I've grown a few plants over the years. Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass can be grown throughout Florida and is often used in borders or in mass plantings for a beautiful, drift-like effect. It is best to use time-release fertilizer to help ornamental grasses grow a healthy root system. Water new plants until they are established. Ground covers can add color, texture and an interesting appeal to the garden. NOCO GENIUS1, 1A Smart Car Battery Charger, 6V and 12V Portable Automotive Charger, Battery Maintainer, Trickle Charger and Desulfator for AGM, Lithium, Auto, Motorcycle and Deep-Cycle Batteries Amazon 3 $70 USD Oregon 20-025 Super-Twist Magnum Gatorline String Trimmer Line .130-Inch Diameter 5-Pound Spool Amazon 1 $18 USD ga('send', 'event', 'Inbound Links', 'Click', href); Dwarf fakahatchee grass also features dense clusters of small flowers at its stems, which bees or other insects often pollinate. This grass is evergreen in sub-tropical areas and has bright green blades with a serrated edge. Sometimes called Eastern gamagrass, this plant forms a large clump that works well as an accent plant or planted as a border. Whereas Fakahatchee Grass matures at 5 6 ft. tall, the dwarf relative matures at 2 3 ft. Common Names:Gamma Grass, Florida Gamma Grass, Eastern Gamma Grass, Description: Hardy Range:5 10BMature Height:5 6Mature Spread:5 6Growth Rate:fastGrowth Habit:round. It has deep green spiky foliage that clump together to create 5 - 6 foot tall masses and in late spring to mid-summer, rust-colored flowers appear on long slender stems that rise above the foliage. Fertilize your fakahatchee grass about three times a year to maintain its health. $("#slider").owlCarousel({ I just want to share my experience and hope that it helps others. Although not specifically a requirement for fountain grass, fertilizer can be applied as growth resumes in the spring. They grow in rounded clumps reaching 5-6 feet in height and 4-6 feet wide in Florida. The inconspicuous flowers can be white, pink, yellow, or rust colored. For deciduous grasses like some Miscanthus, the old foliage may be completely removed with a chainsaw or hedge shears. The planting season for stratified seed is spring and winter for non-stratified seeds. This grass is also a favorite food source for grazing animals such as deer, which helps to keep their populations healthy. While this plant can tolerate partial shade, it will produce more flowers and grow more vigorously in full sun. Because they grow in clumps, Fakahatchee grass can help stabilize soil and prevent erosion. At maturity, this ornamental grass grows in clumps that reach is 2-3 feet tall and approximately 3 feet wide. This is usually performed in late winter or early spring. navigation : true, Fakahatchee Grass. It's frequently found growing along river banks, hammocks, swamps, and other wet sites throughout most of Florida. In fact, it is considered a threatened species in Florida by the Endangered Plant Advisory Council. The plant is often used to help stop erosion and can be planted along the edge of river banks. } The plant can be pruned to form smaller, decorative clumps of grass as well and makes an excellent choice for borders or slopes. Provide at least an inch of water every week, until the plant is well established. Eastern Gamagrass, Fakahatchee Grass--Natives for Your Neighborhood, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). Sit back and watch as the clumps of Fakahatchee Grass in your garden sways in the light breeze. Its perfect for adding interest to any garden, and its surprisingly easy to grow. Blue Love Grass or Eragrostis Elliottii is a beautiful ornamental grass that is native to America and displays foliage that is blue-gray in color. Fakahatchee grass is very tolerant of heat and grows well in USDA zones 8 to 11. So why not give this fantastic plant a try? The leaves have small, sharp teeth along their edges. Second, be sure to plant your grass in well-drained soil. For evergreen grasses like Fakahatchee grass, the ragged, dead leaves can be removed by combing the grass with a pitchfork. Unlike those living in the North, Florida homeowners can enjoy a beautiful lawn year-round. You can dig the plant up and cut the clump into divisions with a knife or spade and replant the new divisions as a container grown plant. This type of grass thrives best when it has at least six hours a day of direct sunlight, so this should be considered when planting fakahatchee in your landscape. TED. Its also found in other parts of America. Switchgrass Care Although switchgrass benefits from plenty of sun, it can adapt to a wide range of temperatures and soil conditions and is very low maintenance. How Does Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass Differ From Other Types Of Grasses? This perennial grass can be pruned if you want to cut it back a bit, but it doesnt need this to thrive. It should also be pruned each year to the ground. The lush growth leads to large clumps that die out in the center, so occasionally cutting back to the ground or division is necessary. If you are looking for an interesting and unique plant to add to your landscape, consider using fakahatchee grass. In early summer, the stems flower to produce a crop of jointed seeds. In addition, dwarf fakahatchee grass is much more drought-tolerant than other grasses. TED20182016 (Mini-lecture)TED. It grows best in fertile soils but will tolerate most soil as long as its moist. It can grow pretty tall and generally reaches 4 to 6 feet high. Characteristics: Forms a dense, upright clump of 3-foot-long leaves. The flowers appear in somewhat showy spikes, with rust colored anthers. For evergreen grasses like Fakahatchee grass, the ragged, dead leaves can be removed by combing the grass with a pitchfork. Fakahatchee grass, also known as Eastern gamagrass, is an ornamental variety of grass thats commonly found growing in Florida. }); Growing And Maintenance Tips For Fakahatchee Grass. Fakahatchee Grass is a robust bunchgrass resembling a shrub with long, showy green leaves when allowed to grow to 4-8 feet high and 2-3 feet wide. Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass can be grown throughout Florida and is often used in borders or in mass plantings for a beautiful, drift-like effect. The genus Tripsacum is very closely related to Zea (maize) and hybrids between the two genera are reported. This plant improves water quality by filtering out pollutants and excess nutrients from the water that flows through it. This will help the grasses root and renew. It's frequently found growing along river banks, hammocks, swamps, and other wet sites throughout most of Florida. Learn More About The FAKAHATCHEE Planting Instructions This is usually performed in late winter or early spring. Ornamental Characteristics:Fakahatchee Grass is characterized by flat blades of grass that grow from a short, thick, underground rhizome. Planting Guide For Fakahatchee Grass Florida Native, Improving Mental Health Through Gardening. Many people wonder Top Four Ways Gardening Improves Mental Health Amongst many other treatments, activities, and connections, gardening has been 1500+ Native Lovers like you already receive our newsletter. To establish Fakahatchee Grass, plant into a well prepared and clean tilled weed-free seed bed. CARE FOR The FAKAHATCHEE GRASS Planting Instructions This is usually performed in late winter or early spring. Fakahatchee grass is very hearty and can thrive in dry, sandy soil. Photo by Mary Kelm, licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA. 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