American Beak Grass

Perennial Grass  •  $6, 4-inch pot

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Height	2 to 3 ft
Spacing	2 ft
Sun Exposure	Part to Full Shade
Soil Moisture	Medium Dry to Moist
Bloom Color	Insignificant
Bloom Time	June, July
Companion Plantings	Blue-stemmed Goldenrod, Heart-leaved Aster
Special Attributes

Diarrhena americana

The attractive, deep forest-green blades of this woodland grass can get up to 3 feet long and game-birds and small mammals feed on its seeds. This plant will grow in nearly any soil condition – including clay – and its fibrous root system would aid in the stabilization of shaded slopes or stream banks. American Beak Grass will form small colonies in ideal growing conditions, making it a good groundcover. This plant is also Black Walnut tolerant.

The genus name Diarrhena roughly translates to “twice male” in reference to its paired stamens.

Propagation

Collect seeds in late summer/early fall as they brown. Seeds need 60 days cold, moist stratification and cool soil temperatures to germinate – so best sown outdoors late fall through early winter.

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