Native Plant Database

Header Photo: Mervin Wallace

Eastern Gama Grass

Tripsacum dactyloides
Plant Type: Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
Native Environment: Prairie
Season of Interest:
Main Color: Green
Fall Color:

USDA PLANTS Range Map

At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data

Sun Exposure 
Full Sun
Soil
Moisture
Moderate, High
Nature Attracting
Wildlife Benefit
Cover
Animal
Resistance
Size

Height:

4 to
8
feet

Spread:

4 to
6
feet
Size
Height: 4 to
8
feet
Spread: 4 to
6
feet
Size
Height: 4 to
8
feet
Spread: 4 to
6
feet
Typical Landscape Use
Use in swales and moist areas. Can be used as a large accent plant in the landscape.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Grow in full sun or light shade in average to moist soil. Spreads from seed.
Special Features
Special Usage
Basic Description

A robust, clump-forming, warm season grass with coarse, arching, gray-green leaf blades. Orange and purple flower spikes grow 10 in. long and arch above the foliage from May to September. Naturalizes aggressively by self-seeding.

Where Should I Start?

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What’s the Next Step?

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Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?

Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.

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