Eastern Gamagrass
Tripsacum dactyloides
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, United States
Photo by David J. Stang
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Tripsacum
- Species:
- Tripsacum dactyloides
- USDA Symbol:
- TRDA3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Amphipoea erepta, southern cornstalk borer (Diatraea crambidoides), Sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis), Byssus Skipper (Problema byssus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- tan, brown
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from deep rhizomes after fire. Benefits from periodic burning to remove thatch and stimulate new growth.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers fertile soils in native habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best at warm temperatures (70-85°F) after cold stratification. Light is not required for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 42 to 56 days. In other studies, mechanical injury of caryopsis or covering layers resulted in higher germination. Application of gibberellic acid also enhances germination.
Source: npn.rngr.net