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Eastern Gamagrass

Tripsacum dactyloides

About This Plant

Full sun/part shade; a large, nearly evergreen bunchgrass with ornamental purple and orange flower spikes. It provides exceptional browse for livestock, but like other native bunchgrasses it can easily be overgrazed; herds can be rotated to allow it to recover. Eastern gamagrass can be found near river banks and other seasonally flooded, poorly drained sites, generally east of San Antonio.

Origins: Eastern US and Mexico to S. America

Maintenance

Generally carefree, though large and coarse. It can be cropped during winter to control size — but carefully, as the wide leaves have sharp edges.

A large native bunchgrass suitable for poorly drained soil.

Min. Height: 4

Max Height: 6 feet

Min. Width: 12

Max Width: 18 inches

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