Knotgrass
Paspalum distichum
Also known as: Large Knotgrass
- Native to:
- Argentina, Bahamas, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Central American Pacific Is., Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Galápagos, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Juan Fernández Is., Leeward Is., Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is., U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, United States, Uruguay, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
Josep Gesti
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Paspalum
- Species:
- Paspalum distichum
- USDA Symbol:
- PADI6
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- Lawn Substitute:
- Yes
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- waterfowl, shorebirds
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes following fire. Common in wetland areas subject to periodic burning.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, fertile, sandy loam
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in wetlands and along water bodies
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm, moist conditions. Often spreads vegetatively via stolons and rhizomes.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI