Beaked Panicgrass Coleataenia anceps
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Panicum rhizomatum
- Phonetic Spelling
- ko-lee-TEN-ee-ah AN-seps
- Description
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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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- var. anceps
subspecies
- var. anceps
- var. anceps
- Tags:
Download Image
Download Image
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. anceps
subspecies
- var. anceps
- var. anceps
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Coleataenia
- Species:
- anceps
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Beaked panicgrass is good for cattle grazing.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of 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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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 Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Seed is ready for harvest in September. Beaked panicgrass is a prolific seed producer.
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 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.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Erect blades of flat, green, veined leaves are crowded near the base.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Smooth green stems have irregularly shaped ligules
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Landscape:
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
