Prairie Panic Grass Kellochloa verrucosa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Panicum verrucosum
- Phonetic Spelling
- kel-loh-KLOH-ah ver-ru-KOH-sah
- Description
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Watry Panicgrass is an annual flowering grass in the Poaceae (grass) family native to the central and eastern United States. Warty Panicgrass is a terrestrial plant, not aquatic, but does appear in wooded floodplains, disturbed areas, and swamps. It has sheathed leaves, a sprawling habit, and solitary, terminal, erect purple culms. It is noted for its warty, dark green spikelets. The genus name, Kellochloa, is in honour of Elizabeth Anne Kellog (b.1951) an American botanist and the species name verrucosum is Latin for warty.
Warty Panicgrass prefers moist to wet, sandy, or loamy soils. It is a hardy plant that has shown regrowth in response to clear cutting or roller chopping. It will spread by seeds dispersed by gravity and the wind. The species often increases after tilling and seed germination depends on exposed and disturbed soil.
Diseases, Insect Pests and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect problems.
- 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:
- Kellochloa
- Species:
- verrucosa
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- New England south to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- 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)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- Indehiscent caryopsis
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, purple-spotted panicle appear from August to late September. The flowers are attached to branches.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Clums reddish sheathing glaborus on one side hairy on the outer margin. Leaf blades are alternate lanceolate light green with red veining 2 1/2 to 10 inches long and less than 1/2 inch wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
