Microstegium vimineum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Andropogon vimineus
- Eulalia viminea
- Pollinia viminea
- Phonetic Spelling
- my-kroh-STEE-jee-um vi-MIN-ee-um
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Japanese stiltgrass is a summer annual weed in the grass family (Poaceae) that invades disturbed and undisturbed woodlands. It is an invasive species in North Carolina. Originally from Pakistan to Japan, it was accidentally introduced into Tennessee around 1919 as a result of being used as packing material for porcelain from China. It has spread to 26 states, primarily the eastern and central United States. The epithet means "long, slender shoots."
Japanese stiltgrass can reach 3.5 feet tall and prefers partly shaded, moist growing conditions but is very adaptable to other conditions and most soils. It spreads by seeds and vegetatively. One plant can disperse 1,000 seeds, which remain viable in the soil for four years. Control methods include hand-pulling or digging (before the seeds form), repeated mowing, or applying herbicide. NC State Extension has the following useful publications: Japanese Stiltgrass Identification and Management and Japanese Stiltgrass.
It provides little to no food value to grazing or browsing animals. Few native insect herbivores feed on this plant, so there is no natural control to its spread.
Quick ID Hints:
- Each leaf on stiltgrass has a silvery midvein that divides the leaf unevenly.
- The stem is light green to reddish-purple, glabrous and terete.
- Lower stems are often raised off the ground by roots (the “stilts” in the common name)
- Lower stems are spreading while upper stems are more erect.
- Leaves are linear-elliptic in shape with entire margins.
- Flowers can form fruits while covered by leaf sheaths.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council. Consider native alternatives listed in the sidebar to the left.
- 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:
- Microstegium
- Species:
- vimineum
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Pakistan to Japan
- Distribution:
- Roadsides, ditches, moist woodlands, NC floodplain, edges of trails, farm fields, pastures, hay fields, home landscapes and turf areas
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Little or no food value to grazers.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are awned and bristly and are blown by the wind or stick to the fur of mammals. Many seeds produced by 1 plant that stay viable for 3 years.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Individual racemes are 1-3 inches long, consisting of several pairs of erect spikelets. Grass-like blooms are self-fertile to wind fertilized.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are about 3 inches long and 1/2 inch across. They are linear-elliptic in shape with entire margins. The blade bases are narrowly cuneate (wedge-shaped), tips are acute. The upper surface is green and may have hairs toward their bases. The undersides are pale green.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Lenticels:
- Not Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stem is light green to reddish-purple, glabrous, and terete. Lower stems spreading while upper stems are more erect.
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy