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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

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:
Tags:
#hardy#NC native#sprawling#flowers late summer#annual#grass#culms
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hardy#NC native#sprawling#flowers late summer#annual#grass#culms
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Native Plant
    Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Caryopsis
    Fruit Description:
    Indehiscent caryopsis
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Small groups