Danthonia spicata
Growing Information
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Sunlight: Sun to full shade.
• Soils: Dry
• Bloom Time: Non-showy green inflorescence from May to July.
• Size: 1-3 feet in height, 1-2 foot spread
Despite its name, this grass offers an abundance of beauty to a garden setting. Tolerant of the dry sandy soils of the Cape, this grass is a perfect groundcover for sun or shade. Its low growing nature makes it a great lawn alternative. Unlike many of our native grasses, such as little bluestem or purple lovegrass, which don’t show themselves until June, this is a cool season grass to give your garden a nice spring green. It will then make itself scarce once the summer heat comes on.
Garden Companions
Black Oak (Quercus velutina), White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
Nature Benefits
- Host plant for the and Indian Skipper, Common Wood-Nymph, Leonard's Skipper, and Hobomok Skipper butterflies.
- Songbirds eat the seeds.
Natural Habitat
Meadows and fields, rocky slopes, woodlands.