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Oplismenus hirtellus

basket grass

Poaceae

Tropical and subtropical regions including eastern Australia

Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Oplismenus hirtellus is a soft trailing perennial grass with slender creeping stems that root at the nodes, forming a loose mat 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) high and spreading 12-36 inches (30-90 cm) or more across. The thin lance-shaped leaf blades are 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long, bright green, sometimes with faint cross-banding, and arranged in two ranks along the stems. Slender flowering stems carry small spikelets tipped with sticky awns that cling to fur and clothing. Flowering occurs mainly in the warmer months. Growth is fast in warm, shaded, moist conditions, and the rooting stems let it spread quickly across the ground. It tolerates deep shade where many grasses thin out. The clinging seed and rapid spread can make it weedy in garden beds and bushland. Top growth is damaged by frost but recovers from rooted nodes in mild climates.

Native Range

Native to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including eastern and northern Australia and the Americas. Grows on shaded rainforest floors, creek banks, and moist woodland in rich, damp soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a shade groundcover and in hanging baskets and containers, spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. Used to cover bare soil under trees and in courtyards where lawn grasses thin out. The rooting stems and clinging seed can spread into garden beds and adjacent bushland.

How to Identify

Identified by soft, two-ranked lance-shaped leaf blades 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long on slender creeping stems that root at the nodes. The flowering spikelets carry sticky awns that cling to clothing and fur. The trailing shade-tolerant habit separates it from upright tussock grasses.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 6"

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowers mainly in the warmer months (summer to autumn, December to May in its native range). The small spikelets are inconspicuous and tipped with sticky awns. Flowering and seeding continue while growth is active in warm, moist conditions.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

bright green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 1-4 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 Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in part to deep shade in moist, well-drained soils high in organic matter. Water regularly, as the soft foliage wilts and browns in dry conditions. Grows fast in warm weather and slows in cold. Frost damages top growth, which recovers from rooted nodes in mild climates. Few pests are recorded. Trim or mow runners to contain the spread, as rooting stems extend the mat quickly.

Pruning

Trim or shear runners along the edges of the planting to contain the spreading mat. Cut back frost-damaged or untidy growth in spring to renew the foliage. Regular trimming limits self-rooting beyond the intended area.

Pruning Schedule

early spring