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Dichanthelium spp.

rosette grasses

Poaceae North America

Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 3–9

Overview

Dichanthelium spp. is a genus of about 70 species of perennial cool-season grasses in the family Poaceae, native largely to North America and known as rosette grasses or panicgrasses. The common name refers to the flat basal rosette of short, broad winter leaves that persists through the cold months, from which taller flowering stems rise the following season. Plants form tufts 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm) tall with lance-shaped blades 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 cm) long. The genus flowers in two phases: an open, spreading panicle in spring whose flowers cross-pollinate, followed in summer and autumn by smaller, self-pollinating flowers hidden among the leaves. The spikelets are tiny, rounded, and 0.1 inch (2 to 3 mm) long. Species grow in open woodland, savanna, prairie, and disturbed ground. Many species are difficult to tell apart without close examination of the spikelets.

Native Range

Dichanthelium spp. is native across North America, from southern Canada through the United States into Mexico and Central America, with additional species in South America and the Old World tropics. Its greatest diversity lies in the eastern and southeastern United States.

Suggested Uses

Rosette grasses are used in meadow, prairie, and woodland-edge plantings and in habitat and restoration projects, where they host skipper butterfly larvae and feed seed-eating birds. They suit naturalistic borders spaced 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) apart. The overwintering rosettes add low green cover through the cold months.

How to Identify

Identify Dichanthelium spp. by the flat overwintering rosette of short basal leaves, which differs from the upright winter form of most grasses. Spring stems carry an open, branching panicle that later gives way to reduced clusters tucked among the upper leaves. Blades are usually broad for their length, with hairy or fringed margins and sheaths. The rounded, minute spikelets separate it from the related genus Panicum spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread6" - 1'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

The first flowering phase opens in mid to late spring, roughly April through June, as an open airy panicle. A second phase of small, closed flowers forms among the leaves from summer into autumn. Seed ripens through the season and feeds ground-foraging birds.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

green to purplish

Foliage Description

green, sometimes purple-tinged

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Most Dichanthelium spp. grow in full sun to part shade on well-drained sandy or loamy soil at pH 5.0 to 7.0 and tolerate drought once established. The genus is hardy across USDA zones 3 to 9 and needs little care in a naturalistic planting. Water is rarely required except during prolonged drought on dry sites. Plants self-sow and form colonies, which suits meadow and restoration plantings but can crowd small beds. Cut the old growth back in late winter before the new rosette extends. The grasses serve as larval host plants for several skipper butterflies.

Pruning

Cut Dichanthelium spp. to near ground level in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. Removing seed heads before they ripen limits self-sowing in cultivated beds. No other routine trimming is needed.

Pruning Schedule

early spring