Eastern Gamagrass
Tripsacum dactyloides
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Venezuela, Virgin Islands
Eric Hunt
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:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- green, purple
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★★★☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- 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, butterflies
- Fall Color:
- brown
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Can resprout after fire; fire helps maintain open habitat.
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 benefit from cold moist stratification for 30-60 days to break dormancy.
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
Where to Buy
Nationwide Seller
- Bamert Seed (seeds)
- Native Seed Group (seeds)
- Ernst Seeds (seeds)
- Native American Seed (nursery and seeds)
- Native American Seed (nursery and seeds)
- Native American Seed (nursery and seeds)
- Native American Seed (nursery and seeds)