Narrowleaf Silkgrass
Pityopsis graminifolia
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, United States
James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Pityopsis
- Species:
- Pityopsis graminifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- PIGR4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- aug,sep,oct,nov
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Saturated Flower Moth (Schinia saturata), Schinia rufipenna, Schinia tuberculum
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes following fire; adapted to fire-maintained sandhills and pine flatwoods.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Commonly found in pine flatwoods and sandy uplands.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with light; cold stratification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seed may be stratified for a week or less. This seed will begin to emerge in the cooler with germination uniform and complete shortly after it is returned to the bench.
Establishment: Despite reasonable germination tests, greenhouse emergence has been only around 3%. The seed was collected from various locations including Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
Source: npn.rngr.net