Savanna Hairgrass is a warm-season bunchgrass native to coastal regions of the southeastern United States. It is found in bogs, flatwoods, and other wet sites with acidic sandy soil. This plant is grazed by cattle, sheep, and other herbivores. Growth can be controlled by fire. Use this plant in native coastal gardens in wet to boggy sites.
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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaf blade is 12 to 14 inches long, narrow, wiry, tough, twists slightly at maturity and margins fold or roll inward. The leaf sheath is rounded, mostly basal and curls into fibrous mass at maturity.
Flower color
Pink
Flower detail
Flowering and fruiting occurs mainly in September and October. Inflorescence is diffuse, 3-12 inches long with primary branches 1-8 inches, pedicels longer than spikelets.
Bloom time
Fall
Fruit color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
The seedhead is a diffuse purple panicle. It is delicate and may break apart over winter.