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Microstegium vimineum

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

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:
Tags:
#invasive#full sun tolerant#summer annual weed#high maintenance#aggressive#spreading#warm season weed#partial shade tolerant#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#invasive#full sun tolerant#summer annual weed#high maintenance#aggressive#spreading#warm season weed#partial shade tolerant#weed
  • 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
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Ascending
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Landscape:
    Problems:
    Invasive Species
    Weedy