Silky Oatgrass Danthonia sericea
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- dan-THO-nee-ah ser-REE-see-ah
- Description
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Downy oatgrass is a native perennial sedge or rush in the grass family (Poaceae) native to the eastern United States from Pennsylvania south to Florida and west to Texas. In North Carolina, it is found along roadsides, forest edges and rocky outcroppings in the coastal plains and the Piedmont, but is uncommon in the western mountains. The plant can reach a height of 6 feet, a spread of 4 feet, with small, almost invisible, flowers that appear in spring as spikelets in terminal panicles with conspicuous bristles.
Downy oatgrass prefers moist or occasionally dry, sandy soils and partial to full sun. It is rhizomatous with fibrous roots.
Downy oatgrass is an attractive grass with short leaves and tall stems. The common names comes from the hairs that cover the seed heads and leaf sheaths.
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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Danthonia
- Species:
- sericea
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central United States.
- Distribution:
- New England to Florida and west to Texas.
- Wildlife Value:
- Stems provide nesting habitat for some bees
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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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
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are spikelets along the stem. They are minute and therefore not visible to the naked eye.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow veined leaves are 4 to 12 inches long and sheathed to the stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Bees
