Tripsacum dactyloides
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Tried and True Recommended by 1 Professional
Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: eastern gamagrass
Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Zone: 4 to 9
Native Range: Eastern and central United States
Garden Location: Martha Love Symington Missouri Native Shade Garden
Height: 4 to 8 feet
Spread: 4 to 6 feet
Bloom Time: May to September
Bloom Color: 
Bloom Description: Purple (female) and Orange (male)
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Leaves: Good Fall Color
Tolerates: Air Pollution, Black Walnuts
Uses: Cut Flower, Will Naturalize

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Does very well in shady locations near water. Cut back to ground after frost kills the foliage.

Noteworthy Characteristics

This robust, clump-forming, warm season grass is native to Missouri and typically grows from 4-8' tall. Foliage features coarse, arching, narrow (1.25" wide), flat blades. Finger-like flower spikes arch to 10" long above the foliage from May to September. Flower spikes have separate male (orange stamens) and female (purple stigmas) flowers on the same spike (monoecious), somewhat similar to native corn (Zea). Typically grows in the wild in pure stands on prairies, limestone slopes, fields, thickets, wood margins and roadsides. Naturalizes by thick, creeping rhizomes and self-seeding.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Adds size and texture to the shaded perennial border. Also may be grown in woodland gardens, meadows, prairies, naturalized areas and along the edges of ponds or streams.

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