Dichanthelium clandestinum

Sizes available: HPP #1, 2-3 plants per pot

Basics: zones 4-9, 1-3' tall, part sun (more sun is ok in wetter soils) to dappled shade, can persist in quite a bit of shade, blooms in late spring and intermittently into fall, prefers consistent moisture, but well-drained soil, is somewhat drought tolerant once established, tolerates acid, high aluminum content, and/or infertile soils. As you can sense from this description, it is very adaptable.

Common names: Deer-tongue Rosette-panicgrass, Deer-tongue Switchgrass, Witch Grass, Deertongue

Family: Poaceae

Origin/Distribution: eastern to central United Sates as well as northern and eastern Canada, introduced in Myanmar, native to Maine.

Habitat: shady, moist woodland, ditches, roadsides and other disturbed habitats, sandy but moist soils, lake and riverside, field, meadow

More: This is an ornamental, warm-season, native grass that if happy, will spread by rhizome to form a strong-growing colony. Useful for reclaiming degraded ground. Grows well with switch grasses such as Panicum virgatum. The seeds are an excellent food source for turkeys, sparrows, and other granivorous birds. Provides shelter for small mammals, salamanders, toads, beetles, etc. Very attractive and low maintenance. It looks a bit like a low-growing bamboo. However, because of its potentially robust growth habit, appropriate site selection is key. 

Nursery: grown from seed by Honey Petal Plants - seed from Toadshade Wildflower Farm and Hayefield Seeds

Image credits: Wikimedia Commons