This plant can be used as a background planting that will create a light orange haze during the late fall and winter months. Andropogon virgnicus var. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Can be aggressive in disturbed lands. , Wildlife, Provides food and nesting material for many small birds and other small animals. , Habitat, Open seepage areas, flatwoods, marshes, ruderal areas. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Larval host for zabulon skipper (Poanes zabulon).

If grown in a freshwater environment, S. patens will grow much bigger. Use as a shoreling stabilization plant on edges of sand beaches and saltmarsh. , Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt , Wildlife, Birds and other animals eat the seeds. , Habitat, Salt and brackish water of shores, farmlands, marshes, dunes. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance