Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass

Grows well well north of its native range.  Documented in very southern counties with an outlier in Martin County -- that outlier is also unique in that it was collected near a cypress dome.

Closely related to corn, this species has been crossed with maize to produce a corn that is resistant to Helminthosporium turcicum, the fungus that causes northern leaf blight  (Wikipedia).

Listed as Threatened in Florida.



Informal borders.

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.



Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Can get messy after cold spells.

Seeds are eaten by birds.  Provides cover for lizzards and other small animals.

Pine rockland. Also cultivated. Dry sites.

• Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
• Larval host for Byssus Skipper (Problema byssus).