Prefers wet meadow conditions and saturated soil to 3 inches of inundation.
Species will tolerate seasonal inundation.
Wildlife Value
Early growth provides some forage value to rodents and deer. Older growth is not
readily grazed. Also provides food for waterfowl, marsh birds, and shore birds.
Muskrats eat roots. Also used for wildlife cover and provides nesting habitat
for marsh wren.
Application/Zone
Used in upper shoreline zones, for streambanks, upland slope buffer
stabilization and in vegetated swales.
Availability, Establishment, and Maintenance
Rhizomes and young transplants are used since seed viability can be very low.
Preferred planting of rhizomes is 5 inches deep on 1-3 foot centers in April
or May. Young transplants are most successful and widely used.
A minimum of 1 gallon of water per linear foot per row or 1 acre inch of water
should be applied after planting. Plants require saturated, not flooded, soil to
maintain stand.
Plantings may be burned annually to stimulate seed production. Competes well
with reed canary grass when established.
Prairie Cordgrass Spartina pectinata
Mature Height
5-7 feet
Plant Type
Perennial grass
Indicator Status
Facultative Wet (+)
pH
4.7-7.8
Nutrient Load Tolerance
Moderate to high
Salt Tolerance
Low to moderate
Siltation Tolerance
Moderate
Flowering Color and Time
Greenish yellow
July to August
