Broadleaf Signalgrass Urochloa platyphylla
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Brachiaria extensa
- Brachiaria platyphylla
- Paspalum platyphyllum
- Phonetic Spelling
- yur-ah-KLO-ah PLAT-ih-FIL-uh
- Description
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Broadleaf signal grass is a weedy annual native ornamental grass in the Poaceae (grass) family. Whether this plant is native to the SE USA or introduced and naturalized to this area is in dispute. It is a warm-season grass that grows and blooms from May through October. It is found along roadsides, disturbed areas, agricultural fields, and ditches preferring loamy to sandy soils. It is not recommended for most gardens.
Its form is a graminoid, elongated culms with blade-like leaves. It is commonly found growing along the ground with ascending tips. Its roots are fibrous and can often root at the lower stem nodes.
Seedlings may have maroon edged and hairy leaf sheaths.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It can be resistant to herbicides and therefore difficult to manage.
- 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:
- Urochloa
- Species:
- platyphylla
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern and central U.S.A., Cuba, South America
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Wildlife graze on this grass.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The seed head is in the form of a raceme that blooms from May to October. The seed heads have 2 to 6 branchlike structures, each 1 to 3 1/2" long. The spikelets have a flattened look.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Sheathing wide linear leaves with hairs on sheath, blades are smooth. The Ligule, which is a narrow membrane, has a fringe of hairs. Leave blades can have a bit of Burgundy color. Leaf sheaths are hairy. Leaves may be crinkled on one side and smooth on the other.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are prostrate, branching and bending at the nodes.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Problems:
- Weedy
