Other Grasses
Poaceae
Click or tap the section titles below to learn more about these species!
Poverty Oatgrass
Danthonia spicata
IDENTIFICATION: What does it look like?
Average Height: 12 – 24 inches
Description: Poverty oatgrass is a small grass with a dense tuft of basal leaves that are often curled inward on the margins. The dead leaves twist and spiral, which is quite distinctive and a good clue for identification. Flowering stalks are slender and leafless, with flowers (and later seeds) borne in an oatlike cluster on top.
Bloom time: Apr – Jun
LOCATION: Where is it at home?
Poverty oatgrass can be found across the Eastern United States and Canada, except for the southernmost reaches, such as peninsular Florida and the Gulf Coast. It is also scattered widely across the western US, but is mostly absent from the Great Plains.1 In Virginia, it is found statewide, with records from most counties. Habitats include dry forests, woodlands, savannas, patch-prairies, rock outcrops, and occasionally, swamp hummocks. It can be one of the most abundant plant species in shallow sandy or rocky soils.10
CONNECTIONS: What are its relationships to other plants, animals, and humans?
Flora associations: Poverty oatgrass occurs with many other plant species across its large range. In the Virginia Piedmont, some typical associates in dry forests and woodlands include oaks (Quercus spp.), hickories (Carya spp.), pines (Pinus spp.), blueberries (Vaccinium spp), silverrod (Solidago bicolor), slender goldenrod (S. erecta), forked witchgrass (Dichanthelium dichotomum var. dichotomum), shaved sedge (Carex tonsa), Godfrey’s thoroughwort (Eupatorium godfreyanum), summer bluets (Houstonia purpurea), and wavy-leaved aster (Symphyotrichum undulatum). In savannas and patch-prairies, little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), yellow prairie grass (Sorghastrum nutans), gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis), narrow-leaved mountain-mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium), grass-leaved blazing star (Liatris pilosa), thoroughworts (Eupatorium spp.), slender bush-clover (Lespedeza virginica), common pinweed (Lechea racemulosa), and Small’s ragwort (Packera anonyma) are frequent companions.
Fauna associations: Though it is not robust enough to be a desirable forage plant for herbivorous mammals, many insects feed on poverty oatgrass. These include Indian skipper (Hesperia sassacus), green-striped grasshopper (Chortophaga viridifasciata), and a midge, Calamomyia danthoniae.7
Human associations: There are no known medicinal or edible properties for Danthonia spicata, but it is used in grassland restoration.
Broomsedge
Anatherum virginicum
IDENTIFICATION: What does it look like?
Average Height: 30 – 48 inches
Description: A medium-sized grass with leafy culms arising from a large basal rosette. The culms bear flowers, and later seeds from within clusters of leafy bracts. The plants turn a tawny orange-brown in fall, familiar to anyone within the large native range of this species.
Bloom time: Aug – Oct
Notes: This species is very similar to little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) but is coarser, with stems and seed heads concealed by leaves and bracts. The color of the plants in fall is also a paler orange-brown compared to the rich reddish color of little bluestem.
LOCATION: Where is it at home?
Broomsedge is found across the Eastern United States from Florida north to Massachusetts and west to Iowa and Texas. It is also reported from Ontario.1 Across this large area, it can be found in a massive array of open habitats, but is most abundant in dry soils on recently disturbed ground, such as pastures and clearcuts.
CONNECTIONS: What are its relationships to other plants, animals, and humans?
Flora associations: Though it is usually a minor component of high-quality ecosystems, Broomsedge can be found alongside many other native grasses, including little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Elliott’s bluestem (Anatherum gyrans), splitbeard bluestem (A. ternarium), yellow prairie grass (Sorghastrum nutans), and purpletop (Tridens flavus). In disturbed, ruderal ecosystems, common native associates include rough buttonweed (Hexasepalum teres), wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia), tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima), horseweed (Erigeron canadensis), burnweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius), dog-fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium), pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), and frost aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum).
Fauna associations: Broomsedge is the larval host for several species of butterflies, including the common wood-nymph (Cercyonis pegala) and Zabulon skipper (Lon zabulon). Native grasshoppers enjoy the foliage, and dense stands offer nesting habitat for northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus).2,3
Human associations: As the name suggests, this grass has long been favored for making brooms.
Silver Plumegrass
Erianthus alopecuroides
IDENTIFICATION: What does it look like?
Average Height: 60 – 120 inches
Description: A tall, elegant grass with broad leaves and a bold white midvein. The flowering head is borne high above the leaves on a sturdy culm. Upon ripening, the seeds fluff out, revealing the twisty awns.
Bloom time: Aug – Oct
Notes: Silver plumegrass is similar to multiple other native plumegrasses, including giant plumegrass (E. giganteus) and bent-awn plumegrass (E. contortus). These species are most common in the eastern part of Virginia and are usually in moist sandy soils.
LOCATION: Where is it at home?
Silver plumegrass is a Southeastern species, found from Florida west to eastern Texas and north only to southern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and New Jersey. It is most common in the upland parts of the South, such as the Appalachians, Piedmont, and Ozark regions. It can be found in dry, sunny places like savannas, open woodlands, prairies, and dry road banks.11
CONNECTIONS: What are its relationships to other plants, animals, and humans?
Flora associations: In the Virginia Piedmont, some common associates include witchgrasses (Dichanthelium spp.), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Elliott’s bluestem (Anatherum gyrans), purple-disk sunflower (Helianthus atrorubens), scaly blazing star (Liatris squarrosa), goat’s-rue (Tephrosia virginiana), kidney-leaf rosinweed (Silphium reniforme), Maryland golden-aster (Chrysopsis mariana), and many other native heliophytes.
Fauna associations: Like many other native grasses, the common wood-nymph (Cercyonis pegala) uses this species as a larval host. It is also reported that its hollow stems serve as nesting sites for solitary native bees.4
Human associations: No known human associations with silver plumegrass could be found, though it would be an excellent species to use in grassland restoration or as an ornamental. Maybe you will be the first to discover its historic uses!
Ashe’s Witchgrass
Dichanthelium commutatum var. ashei
IDENTIFICATION: What does it look like?
Average Height: less than 12 inches
Description: A small clump-forming grass with slender, lance-shaped leaves, smooth, often reddish stems, and clusters of small, oval seeds at the tips of the stems in spring and early summer, bearing flowers and seeds from the axils in late summer and fall. The plant has a clump of broad, short, triangular leaves at the base.
Bloom time: May – Jun, Aug – Oct
Notes: One of over 50 members of this notoriously confusing genus in Virginia. Collectively, they can be found statewide in nearly every habitat. The genus means “two-flowering” referring to the plants blooming in both spring and fall.9
LOCATION: Where is it at home?
Widespread in the eastern US, from Massachusetts south to northern Florida and west to Oklahoma and Michigan. Most common in the Mid-Atlantic region. In Virginia, it is found statewide in dry forests, woodlands, savannas, shale barrens, and other dry, sunny habitats.
CONNECTIONS: What are its relationships to other plants, animals, and humans?
Flora associations: Found with many other native species preferring dry and sunny conditions. In the Virginia Piedmont, some of these include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), yellow wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria), whorled coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata), goat’s-rue (Tephrosia virginiana), silverrod (Solidago bicolor), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), and many members of the heath family (Ericaceae).
Fauna associations: Like the other native grasses, Dichantheliums support a variety of butterflies, grasshoppers, and other herbivorous insects. Some examples include northern pearly-eye (Lethe anthedon), tawny-edged skipper (Polites egeremet), sulphur-winged grasshopper (Arphia sulphurea), and small mocis moth (Mocis latipes).5,6
Human associations: No human associations are known.
Bibliography & Definitions
1 Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
2 “Anatherum Virginicum (Beard Grass, Bluestem, Broomsedge, Broomstraw, Old-Field Broomstraw) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.” Ncsu.edu, 2026, plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/anatherum-virginicum/.
3 Brakie, Melinda. Plant Fact Sheet BROOMSEDGE BLUESTEM ANDROPOGON VIRGINICUS L. Plant Symbol = ANVI2. Sept. 2009.
4 “Erianthus Alopecuroides (Foxtail Plume Grass, Silver Plume Grass, Wooly Beard Grass) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.” Ncsu.edu, 2026, plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/erianthus-alopecuroides/. Accessed 21 May 2026.
5 Hilty, John. “Deer-Tongue Grass (Dichanthelium Clandestinum).” Illinoiswildflowers.info, 2025, www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/deertg_grass.html.
6 —. “Insect Table (Panicum Spp.).” Illinoiswildflowers.info, 2026, www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/tables/table127.html. Accessed 21 May 2026.
7 —. “Poverty Oat Grass (Danthonia Spicata).” Illinoiswildflowers.info, 2026, www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/pov_oatgrass.htm. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
8 “Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – the University of Texas at Austin.” Www.wildflower.org, www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=anvi2.
9 Townsend, John. “Meet the Witch Grasses!” Https://Vnps.org/Meet-Witch-Grasses/, 1 Feb. 2015.
10 Virginia Botanical Associates. “Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora | Danthonia Spicata (L.) Beauv. Ex Roemer & J.A. Schultes.” Vaplantatlas.org, 2026, www.vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=1482&search=Search. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
11 LeGrand, H., B. Sorrie, and T. Howard. 2026. Vascular Plants of North Carolina [Internet]. Raleigh (NC): North Carolina Biodiversity Project and North Carolina State Parks. Available from https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/index.php.
Definitions:
Awn: A narrow, bristlelike appendage.
Basal: Located at the base, usually referring to leaves that grow from the base of a plant rather than on the stem (basal leaves).
Blade: The part of a grass, sedge, or rush leaf which extends perpendicular to the stem, like a typical leaf.
Culm: The stem of a grass, sedge, or rush.
Ruderal: An ecosystem that results from heavy disturbance (often caused by modern human activity), or a species that colonizes disturbed ground or is characteristic of such conditions.