Spartina patens
Saltmeadow Cordgrass
General
Stabilizer for shoreline and salt marsh restorations, due to its quick rhizomatic spread. This species grows best in the seaward portion of the high salt marsh, just above the mean high-water line. Provides food and cover for various wildlife; seeds have a high nutrition value for animals.
Plant Description
A robust perennial grass native to coastal regions of North America. It features dense clumps of slender, upright stems that can reach up to three feet in height, topped with narrow, tapering leaves. During the summer months, it produces compact, spike-like inflorescences that bear numerous small, greenish-white flowers, contributing to its characteristic appearance in salt marshes and coastal habitats.
Height (ft)
1-5
Soil moisture
Wet
Soil types
Coarse to fine textured mineral soils
Wetland indicator
FACW
Shade tolerance
Intolerant
Bloom color
Yellow, inconspicuous
Bloom period
Early Summer
Drought tolerance
Medium
Salinity tolerance
High
Range
Every Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coastal state except Alaska and Hawaii. Also found in Michigan, along the Great Lakes.