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Sand cordgrass is a large bunch-forming grass (usually without runners) that gets 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) tall. The leaves are rolled, almost wire-like and a little sandpapery (but not sharp) to the touch. The stems and leaves arise in a dense cluster and curve out and down to take up a space equal to the clump's height. The whole plant is brownish-green: more green in summer and more brown in winter, but never as brown as pampas grass gets in winter.
Location
Light: Full sun is best. Moisture: Occurs naturally in wetlands and grows best in moist sandy soils. Sand cordgrass is surprisingly drought tolerant, however, and can be used anywhere in the landscape. Hardiness: USDA Zones 8 - 10. Hardy at least to USDA Zone 8, and probably hardy to zone 7. Propagation: Divide pieces of the root in summer.
Usage
The related prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) is the only cordgrass generally found in cultivation (and the only one listed in Hortus Third), but that is changing as more gardeners discover the beauty and utility of sand cordgrass. In north-central Florida the ground-water aquifer has dropped during the last few decades (the result of over-pumping) and caused many lakes to drop way down. Sand cordgrass continues to thrive in sandy soils more than 100' upslope from lakes where it has been stranded high and dry for more than 25 years. The dry flowering stems are attractive in dried arrangements. The seeds are important wildlife food. Steve Christman 12/12/99; updated 11/8/03, 8/27/05
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