Grasses & Sedges

These native grasses have all been identified on our property! As a very woodsy property, there are not large clumps of lawn; rather, these are clump grasses, rather than turf.

  • Chasmanthium latifolium (sea oats) – This was not growing on the property, but I added it ….
  • Danthonia spicata (Poverty oatgrass) – Naturally occurring.
  • Deschampsia cespitosa (Tufted hairgrass)
  • Deschampsia flexuosa, aka Avenella flexuosa (Wavy hair-grass)
  • Dichanthelium oligosanthes (Fewanther obscuregrass) – Naturally occurring.
  • Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple lovegrass) – I keep trying to get this to take off. It’s probably too shady here.
  • Glyceria striata (Fowl mannagrass) – Naturally occurring.
  • Leersia virginica (Whitegrass) – Naturally occurring.
  • Panicum clandestinum (Deertongue grass) – Naturally occurring.
  • Carex albursina (White bear sedge) – Naturally occurring. Also, the best name.
  • Carex appalachica (Appalachian sedge) – I have added some of this.
  • Carex blanda (Eastern woodland sedge) – Naturally occurring.
  • Carex bromoides (Brome-like sedge) – Naturally occurring.
  • Carex pedunculata (Longstalk sedge) – Naturally occurring.
  • Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge) – I planted some of this around.
  • Carex plantaginea (Seersucker sedge) – I’ve added in ornamental beds in the back yard.
  • Carex radiata (Eastern star sedge) – Naturally occurring.
  • Carex rosea (Rosy sedge) – I’ve added; not sure it’s taken.
  • Carex scabrata – Naturally occurring.
  • Carex sprengelii (Sprengel’s sedge) – Naturally occurring.

Invasives & escaped cultivated non-natives that pop up:

  • Agrostis capillaris (Colonial bentgrass)
  • Anthoxanthum odoratum (Sweet vernal grass)
  • Cyperus rotundus (Nut grass)
  • Digitaria ischaemum (Smooth crabgrass)
  • Digitaria sanguinalis (Hairy crabgrass)
  • Poa annua (Bluegrass)
  • Poa nemoralis (Wood bluegrass)
  • Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass) – Neighbors planted grass, and we started seeing this pop up …. (Not actually native to North America, probably, but certainly not native to woodlands of Massachusetts)
  • Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass)
  • Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese silver grass)
  • Schlerochloa dura (Fairground grass)