Erianthus alopecuroides
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Saccharum alopecuroides
- Phonetic Spelling
- air-ee-AN-thus al-oh-pek-yur-OH-id-eez
- Description
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Silver Plume Grass is an ornamental, perennial grass native to the eastern and central United States and often found along roadsides, fields and woodland borders. It is a tall grass, reaching a mature height of 10 feet with a 5 foot spread. Dense clumps of foliage form on reedy stems with flat leaf blades and silvery flower plumes appear from late summer into winter.This plant grows best in meadows and natural areas.
Silver Plume Grass does best in average, somewhat dry, well-drained soils in full sun. If the grass is planted in rich, moist, fertile soils it will probably need staking. Cut foliage to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear.
Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Read more about best practices for stem-nesting bees in this NC Extension publication.
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:
- Erianthus
- Species:
- alopecuroides
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central United States.
- Distribution:
- Delaware south to Florida and west to Texas.
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant that supports various skipper larvae and Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) which have one brood from late May to October. Adult Common Wood-Nymph butterflies feed on rotting fruit and flower nectar. Dead stems are used by stem-nesting bees
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- 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 Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are available November-December. Grain is ellipsoid, reddish, and 0.08 to 0.14 inches in length.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers bloom in October. Panicles are white to brown in color, reaching a length between 6 and 12 inches, with nodes and internodes that are commonly glabrous.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basel leaves. Blades reach a length of 30 inches.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Purplish stems up to 10 feet high.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
