Clump-forming warm-season perennial grass with long, purplish brown inflorescences, which are compact and resemble spikes, appearing July-October. The foliage consists of thin green blades up to 20″ long.
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Longspike Tridens
Tridens strictus
Plant Type: Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
Native Environment: Prairie
Season of Interest: Late (July - frost)
Main Color: Brown
Fall Color: Brown
USDA PLANTS Range Map
At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data

Photo: Mervin Wallace

Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Medium Sun/Average Shade

Soil
Moisture
Dry, Moderate, High

Nature Attracting

Wildlife Benefit
Cover, Food/Birds

Animal
Resistance
Size
Height:
24 to
60
inches
Spread:
12 to
18
inches
Size
Height: 24 to
60
inches
Spread: 12 to
18
inches
Size
Height: 24 to
60
inches
Spread: 12 to
18
inches
Typical Landscape Use
Prairie and meadow plantings and native plant gardens. May be useful for soil stabilization and marginal areas.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Prefers sandy, well-drained soils, but will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions including heavy clay, low fertility, and salinity issues, and is able to endure both drought and areas that are moist for brief periods. Can be grown from seed or potted plants, and will self-seed in the proper conditions.
Special Features
Special Usage
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for a particular purpose.
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.