Dallisgrass

Paspalum dilatatum

Native to:
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Guam, Paraguay, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Poaceae
Genus:
Paspalum
Species:
Paspalum dilatatum
USDA Symbol:
PADI3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Graminoid
Height:
150 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Green Cloverworm Moth (Hypena scabra)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from the base following fire; common in fire-maintained pastures and grasslands.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
fertile, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers areas with regular rainfall

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate readily in warm conditions without pretreatment. Light may improve germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI