Beaked panicgrass is a perennial, rhizomatous plant in the grass family (Poaceae) native to the central and eastern United States. It is found in moist to dry, sandy or loamy pinelands, maritime forests, and ditches. The plant can reach a height of 2 to 4 feet with a seedhead 14 inches long. The leaves can form a dense cover over small areas. Beaked panicgrass prefers moist to wet soils and partial shade. Beaked panicgrass reproduces from seeds and rhizomes. The seeds should be planted in the fall or early winter. The plants form large clumps as they spread from short rhizomes. Close grazing by cattle causes the plant’s basal tufts to spread widely. While useful for cattle grazing, this plant is rarely abundant and is not usually a primary food source. Deer will graze beaked panicgrass and the seeds are eaten by birds and some waterfowl. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Native Plant; Ornamental Grasses and Sedges; Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Erect blades of flat, green, veined leaves are crowded near the base.
Flower form
Panicle
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
The branched open, 6 to 14 inch panicle, or seedhead, has irregularly placed, 1/4 inch beaked spikelets, thus the common name. Plant will bloom from June into October.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit detail
Seed is ready for harvest in September. Beaked panicgrass is a prolific seed producer.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Smooth green stems have irregularly shaped ligules
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern and Central United States
Distribution
Maine south to Florida and west to Texas.
Wildlife value
Bees will nest in the stems. Beaked panicgrass is grazed by cattle and horses.