Field Paspalum
Paspalum laeve
- Native to:
- United States
Agnes Chase (illustrator) for Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States . USDA Miscellaneous Publication No. 200. Washington, DC. 1950.
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Paspalum
- Species:
- Paspalum laeve
- USDA Symbol:
- PALA10
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rhizomes following fire; tolerates periodic burning typical of wet prairies and meadows.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, fertile, well-drained loam
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Common in wet meadows and lowland areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with light and consistent moisture. Cold stratification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI