Fakahatchee Grass
Tripsacum
dactyloides
Introduction
Florida Tripsacum is an herbaceous
perennial originating in South Florida that
forms a dense, upright clump of 3-footlong
leaves . These flat blades of grass grow
from a short, thick, underground rhizome.
Blades are noticeably more narrow than Tripsacum
dactyloides. This grass attains a height
of about 2 to 3 feet and spreads to form
a clump up to 6-feetwide. The flowers appear
in somewhat showy spikes, with rustcolored
anthers. These spikes appear in the spring
and summer.
General Information
Scientific name: Tripsacum floridana
Pronunciation: trip-SAY-kum flor-rid-DAY-nuh
Common name(s): Florida Gamma Grass, Dwarf Fakahatchee
Grass, Florida Tripsacum
Family: Gramineae
Plant type: herbaceous; ornamental grass
USDA hardiness zones: 8 through 11
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Origin: native to Florida
Uses: accent; border; mass planting; container
or above-ground planter
Availability: somewhat available, may have to
go out of the region to find the plant
Description
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Spread: 4 to 6 feet
Plant habit: round
Plant density: moderate
Growth rate: moderate
Texture: fine
Foliage
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy
Leaf arrangement: most emerge from the soil,
usually without a stem
Leaf type: simple Trunk/bark/branches: typically
multi-trunked or clumping
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: linear
Leaf venation: parallel
Leaf type and persistence: semi-evergreen; evergreen
Leaf blade length: 18 to 36 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: yellow
Flower characteristic: spring flowering; summer
flowering
Fruit
Fruit shape: elongated
Fruit length: 1 to 3 inches
Fruit cover: dry or hard
Fruit color: unknown
Trunk and Branches
Current year stem/twig color: not applicable
Current year stem/twig thickness: not applicable
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part
sun
Soil tolerances: extended flooding; acidic; slightly
alkaline; sand; loam; clay;
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: moderate
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental
features and could be planted more
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally
seen on the plant
Use and Management
Fakahatchee grass has proven to be an outstanding
landscape plant and may be used as an accent
in ground cover beds. It is also useful to
stabilize banks and steep slopes. This grass
may also create a nice edging along streams
and ponds. The adaptability of Florida Tripsacum
makes it well suited for planting in water
retention and detention areas. These areas
are often wet or inundated for a period of
time, then become very dry. Florida Tripsacum
needs a full sun or light shade position
in the landscape and adapts to dense and
light soils. It is tolerant of wet soil conditions
but is also quite drought tolerant. It is
one of the most shade tolerant grasses and
naturalizes readily in a moist site. It is
listed as an endangered plant in Florida.
Pests and Diseases
No pests or diseases are of major concern.
by Edward F. Gilman
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