Silver Plume Grass Erianthus alopecuroides
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 a native ornamental grass found along roadsides, fields and woodland borders the eastern and central U.S.A. This plant grows best in meadows and natural areas.
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.
- 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
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central U.S.A.
- 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. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are available November-December.
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Flowers:
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Description:
- Flowers bloom in October.
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Leaves:
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
