Digitgrass
Digitaria eriantha
Also known as: Digitaria smutsii
- Native to:
- Angola, Botswana, Caprivi Strip, Eswatini, Guam, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Palau, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Digitaria
- Species:
- Digitaria eriantha
- USDA Symbol:
- DIER
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from basal crowns after fire; used in pasture management with prescribed burns.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy to loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to savannas and grasslands
Propagation & Germination
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment in warm soil.