Spartina pectinata is a tall native warm season grass valued for its vigorous growth and ability to thrive in wet soils or floodplains. Its upright arching foliage forms dense clumps that provide vertical structure, while golden flower spikes appear in midsummer and persist through winter. This robust species spreads by rhizomes, making it a reliable choice for erosion control, meadow plantings, and large scale naturalistic designs.
Height & Spread: 48 - 72 in x 36 - 60 in
Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Moist to wet soils; tolerates heavy clay and seasonal flooding
Watering Needs: Low to moderate once established
Deer Resistance: Generally deer resistant due to tough fibrous leaves
Native Status
Spartina pectinata is native to North America, particularly widespread across central and eastern regions in wet prairies, stream banks, and lowlands.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Provides essential nesting habitat and cover for marshland birds, and seeds are consumed by sparrows and red winged blackbirds.
Butterflies
- Supports skipper species such as Delaware Skipper and Broad winged Skipper by serving as a larval host.
Beneficial Insects
- Hosts predatory ground beetles and native crickets within its dense basal clumps, fostering insect diversity.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Allow 36 - 48 in spacing to accommodate its spreading habit and prevent crowding.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for bioswales, rain gardens, pond edges, and habitat restoration projects where robust growth is desired.
Companion Plants
- Vernonia noveboracensis (New York Ironweed) - Tall purple flower spikes contrast with golden seedheads of Spartina.
- Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia) - Striking blue flower spikes bloom in late summer along moist edges.
- Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) - Clusters of pink blooms attract pollinators and enjoy similar wet soils.
- Silphium perfoliatum (Cup Plant) - Towering yellow blooms and bold foliage thrive in the same moist prairie conditions.
- Chelone glabra (White Turtlehead) - Upright white blooms echo the vertical habit and tolerate wet ground.