Native Plants

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Fannon, Carolyn

Spartina spartinae

Spartina spartinae (Trin.) Merr. ex Hitchc.

Gulf Cordgrass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s): Vilfa spartinae

USDA Symbol: SPSP

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

From the Image Gallery

10 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , LA , MS , TX
Native Distribution: Southeastern North America from Florida to Texas south to Costa Rica and in the Caribbean. Southern South America in Argentina and Paraguay.
Native Habitat: Tidal flats, lagoons, Marshes

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Sandy, Saline tolerant

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Reseeding with Gulf cordgrass, Spartina spartinae
May 23, 2007
Are the seeds of Spartina spartinae sterile? If not, when is the best time to harvest for replanting? We are involved in the restoration of the Bahia Grande section of the Laguna Atascosa National Wi...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL					FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Spartina spartinae in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Spartina spartinae in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Spartina spartinae

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-21
Research By: TWC Staff

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