Description

Distichlis spicata, Saltgrass, Native Grasses, Perennial Grass Plugs, Native Wetland Grass

Botanic Name (s): Distichlis spicata,

Common Name(s): Saltgrass

Height: 0.5-1.5’

Flowers: Aug-Oct

Light: Full sun

Moisture: M W

Soil pH: 6.4-10.5

Soil type: C L

Flood Depth:

Salinity: 0-50 ppt

tidal salt marshes,

from Mean High tide

above to spring tide

level; high salinity; wet

depressions

Region: C

States:

DC DE MD

VA

often intermixed with

Spartina patens, forms

Erosion Control Four Season Interest

Average Wildlife Value: Songbirds Small Mammals

FACUpl- Occur in wetlands and non-wetlands

Native To Mountain Regions

Native to Piedmont Regions

Native to Coastal regions

Landscaping and Wildlife: Distichlis spicata is an
abundant grass found throughout the coastal wetlands
along the Gulf of Mexico. It has been used
successfully in coastal wetland restoration projects as
a pioneering species. It is also valuable for the
reclamation of inland, high salinity areas, such as salt
water spills associated with oil production sites.
Ducks have been known to feed on the seed, and
geese will graze it in the fall, especially if it has been
recently burned. It is also an important food source
for the larvae of the Wandering Skipper Butterfly and
the Florida Salt Marsh Vole.

Ethnobotanical: It is reported that Native Americans
collected the salts extruded from the leaves of this
plant, and used them to flavor foods. Saltgrass is also
used in modern pharmaceuticals to treat respiratory
allergies.

Saltgrass is a low growing, rhizomatous, sometimes
stoloniferous, warm season, perennial grass. The
leaves are short, paired, sharply pointed, and erect
giving this grass a spiky appearance. The leaf
sheaths overlap tightly on the stem, adding to the
scaly appearance associated with the rhizomes.
Saltgrass will grow from 6 to 18 inches in height, and
produces both male and female plants. New plants
often produce a star like pattern on bare ground as
rhizomes radiate away from the mother plant.
Saltgrass is capable of creating dense stands under
favorable conditions. It generally produces few seed
heads compared to the number of stems, and the seed
heads are typically pale green in color. Salt crystals
are usually present on the leaf blades in highly saline
areas.

Distichlis spicata, Saltgrass, Native Grasses, Perennial Grass Plugs, Native Wetland Grass