Spartina pectinata - Prairie Cord Grass

Family:	Gramineae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.8
Synonyms:
Range:	N. America - Newfoundland and Quebec to Washington and Oregon, south to North Carolina and Texas.

Spartina pectinata (Prairie Cord Grass) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.8m . It has a hardness rating of 5.
Prairie Cord Grass will flower in November to January. The flowers from this plant are monoecious (both sexes are found on the plant but each flower is either male or female) and they are pollinated by Wind

Soil Information

Prairie Cord Grass will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Prairie Cord Grass prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Prairie Cord Grass can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Shores and gravels[43] and in marshes and sloughs[162]. Usually found in freshwater marshes, though extending into saline marshes near the coast[236].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in fresh or salt water marshes and in ordinary garden soil[162]. Prefers a deep rich moist soil in sun or light shade[200]. Plants have an invasive root system[233].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in a greenhouse in spring and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Plant out in the summer if sufficient growth has been made, otherwise overwinter them in a cold frame and plant them out in the following spring. Division in spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

The culms are much used for thatching[162, 257].

• Thatching - Used for making thatched roofs.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Gray's Manual of Botany.
Fernald. M. L.
Author: Fernald. M. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
Date of Publication : 1950

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

Manual of the Grasses of the United States
Hitchcock. A. S.
Author: Hitchcock. A. S.
Rating:
Publisher : A nice and comprehensive flora, though a bit dated. Good line drawings of each plant, plus a brief idea of the habitat and a few notes on plant uses. Not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication : 1971

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