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Axonopus fissifolius

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Axonopus affinis
Phonetic Spelling
aks-ON-oh-pus fis-sih-FOH-lee-us
Description

Common Carpetgrass is native to the warm parts of North, Central, and South America, including North Carolina. It is a warm-season, stoloniferous perennial grass found in sandy pine forests, fields, lawns, and roadsides. It has a spreading habit and is soil compaction and heat tolerant, but not drought tolerant.

This plant spreads by stolons and seeds. It prefers wet soils and is commonly found growing in ditches. It will grow in poor soils in sun or partial shade. In NC it is found in the coastal and Piedmont areas. It often goes dormant in winter in NC.

It is often used as a lawn grass in recreational areas, a cover crop or in pastures.

See the NC State Extension TurfFiles entry for Common Carpetgrass for more information.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#moist soil#NC native#spreading#fields#native ornamental grass#food source herbage#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#mammals#recreational areas#Audubon#lawn#pasture#meadow#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#moist soil#NC native#spreading#fields#native ornamental grass#food source herbage#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#mammals#recreational areas#Audubon#lawn#pasture#meadow#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Axonopus
    Species:
    fissifolius
    Family:
    Poaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central and southeastern U.S.A., Tropical/ Subtropical America
    Wildlife Value:
    Leaves and seeds are forage for animals.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Native Plant
    Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
    Turfgrass
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    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 Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Caryopsis
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are available July-November.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    2-4 spike-like racemes are 1.5-4 inches long in June-October
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    1-inch long narrow green leaves are flat or folded with fine hairs on the margin near the base. May have a reddish cast at maturity.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Recreational Play Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Attracts:
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Compaction
    Heat
    Humidity
    Poor Soil