Spartina bakeri, or Marsh Grass, is a species of large, perennial grass native to the southeastern United States and Texas, where it grows along the Atlantic coast and in inland freshwater habitat in Florida. This species forms dense bunches up to 20 feet wide with stems up to 4 feet tall. It blooms from spring to fall and usually occurs in wetlands, but occasionally found in non-wetlands. The wiry leaves are light green on the undersides and darker on top. During winter the plant is more brown than during summer, when it is brownish-green. This grass grows in aquatic and semiaquatic habitat, including beaches, ponds, and more upland sites and is highly salt tolerant. It may be used to control erosion and can tolerate flooding. It can be grown as an ornamental and spreads through rhizomes. Marsh grass can be used as an accent or border and is striking when planted in a mass. Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart to form a mass of foliage several years after planting. It is a good native grass for use on the shorelines of ponds and streams and is exquisite when backlit by the sun. It also is suited for planting in and around water retention and detention areas because of its tolerance for wet soil. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No known problems.
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)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Good Drainage | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Dense; Mounding
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Sheath
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The wiry leaves are light green on the undersides and darker on top. Its 2 foot 6 inch erect leaves are almost completely rolled and tapered to sharp points making it look somewhat rush-like.
Flower color
Brown/Copper
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Inflorescence 3 to 7 inches long, comprised of 3-14 branches that ascend near the axis; flowers conspicuous, only on the undersides of the branches; spikelets flattened.