Common Rivergrass
Scolochloa festucacea
- Native to:
- Baltic States, Belarus, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Ukraine, United States
Internet Archive Book Images (www.flickr.com)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Scolochloa
- Species:
- Scolochloa festucacea
- USDA Symbol:
- SCFE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- waterfowl, muskrats, birds
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes after fire; fire can help control competing woody vegetation in wetland margins.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, moisture-retentive loam
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in wetlands and marshes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best in saturated or flooded conditions; light may improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI