Tripsacum dactyloides
 
Common Names Eastern Gamagrass, Fakahatchee Grass
 
Zones 4–9
 
A robust, warm-season bunchgrass native to the eastern and central U.S., Tripsacum dactyloides is a close relative of corn and a keystone species in wet prairie and lowland restorations. Its coarse, arching foliage and finger-like flower spikes add bold texture to native meadows, streambanks, and wildlife corridors. Highly valued for erosion control, forage, and pollinator support, it thrives in moist soils and tolerates seasonal flooding2.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Clump-forming; upright and arching; sod-forming via rhizomes
Height: Typically 4–8 ft (1.2–2.4 m); may reach 10 ft in ideal conditions3
Leaves: Coarse, flat blades; up to 24 in long and ¾ in wide; prominent midrib
Stems: Hollow, fibrous; purplish at base; square in cross-section
Flowers: Monoecious; orange male and purple female spikelets on same raceme; bloom May–September
Fruit: Seed heads 6–10 in long; mature June–September; slow to ripen3
Ecology: Supports native bees and beneficial insects; provides cover for small mammals and birds; roots stabilize soil and tolerate drought/flood cycles
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to part shade
Watering: Medium to high; prefers moist or subirrigated soils
Soil: Loamy, clay, or sandy; tolerates poor drainage; neutral to slightly acidic pH
Temperature: Hardy to –30°F (–34°C); dies back in winter
Humidity: High tolerance; thrives in wetland margins
Propagation: Stratified seed or division; slow germination; self-seeds in ideal conditions
Tolerance: Seasonal flooding, drought, air pollution, black walnut allelopathy
 
Landscape Use Ideal for wetland buffers, prairie restorations, and erosion-prone slopes. Use in mass plantings or as a bold accent in native grass beds. Pairs well with Eutrochium fistulosum, Carex stricta, and Asclepias incarnata.