Pityopsis graminifolia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pit-ee-OP-sis gram-in-ee-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Narrow-leaf Silkgrass is a perennial, evergreen wildflower in the daisy family. It is native to the eastern part of the United States from Ohio to Florida and west to Texas, as well as Mexico and Central America. The plant has grass-like leaves with silver coloration and bright yellow, daisy-like flowers on 30 inch stems that blossom from late summer into fall. The common name, Silkgrass, comes from the silvery hairs that cover its stems and give a silky appearance.
Narrow-leaf Silkgrass will grow in consistently watered, well-drained, fine or medium-textured soils, in full to partial sun. ts bright, daisy-like flowers are most abundant when the plant is sited in full sun. It will tolerate drought, once established, and will do well in nutrient-deficient soils. However, it does not tolerate a course (clay) soil. This is a tough, vigorous, evergreen that does poorly only if soils are too rich and damp.
Its silvery-green, grass-like leaves make it useful as a foreground plant while the tendency of its fiberous rhizomes to spread and colonize make it a good ground cover. For a neat appearance, cut back just before new leaves emerge in February.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- 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:
- Pityopsis
- Species:
- graminifolia
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mid-Atlantic to Florida and Texas, Mexico and Central America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar in the flowers attracts butterflies and bees. Members of the genus Pityopsis support the specialized bee Perdita (Hexaperdita) boltoniae.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Small dry fruits containing the matured ovary in the form of a seed, use a hair-like structures on the top that act as a parachute to disperse the seed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Clusters of 2 inch by 1 inch bright-yellow, daisy-like flowers on 2 1/2 foot stems. The flower heads have both ray and disk florets. Plants sited in full sun will produce more blooms.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Silvery, grass-like leaves, to 1 foot long. Often basal. Blades linear to lanceolate and hairy. Sometimes crowded.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- One to five, 2 foot erect stems, covered in short, alternating stem leaves.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
