Pictured above: Lopsided indiangrass (Sorghastrum secundum) by Emily Bell
265 species native to Florida Source: Atlas of Florida Plants Note: Recognized taxa may differ between sources, depending on which taxonomic approach is followed.
Family characteristics
Poaceae is a large and diverse plant family comprising more than 11,000 species of grasses worldwide. There are around 500 species found in Florida, nearly half of which are non-native.
While not usually thought of as wildflowers, grasses do, in fact, bloom. Their flowers are greatly reduced, consisting of only stamens and stigmas, with no showy petals or sepals. Within the grass family, the key to identifying plants down to species is most often their spikelets.
Muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is a wonderful native plant choice for urban landscapes! Photo by Bill Randolph
Wiregrass (Aristida stricta) is the dominant groundcover species in longleaf pine savannas. Photo courtesy of Alan Cressler, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Sea oats (Uniola paniculata) are a critical coastal species, anchoring the sand dunes in place. Photo by Emily Bell
Grasses are commonly confused with sedges (Cyperaceae) and rushes (Juncaceae). A general rule of thumb for telling them apart is: sedges have edges, rushes are round, and grasses have nodes from the top to the ground — a reference to the plant’s stems. Sedges typically have triangular stems with edges you can feel, while rushes have smooth, round stems. Grass stems are also rounded, but unlike rushes, they have nodes where the leaf sheaths attach.
Interesting facts
Plants in this family are critical to our diets! Corn, wheat, rice, oats and sugarcane are all grasses.
Yellow indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) is a hardy bunchgrass that occurs naturally in flatwoods and sandhills. Its tall, late summer to fall flowers add a beautiful yellow-gold color to the landscape.
Purpletop (Tridens flavus) is an attractive bunchgrass. Its late summer to early fall blooms create a striking magenta to burgundy display. Purpletop also offers significant wildlife value.
Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) is a perennial bunchgrass with an abundance of delicate flowers that cover the plant in a billowy purple haze.
There is nothing more iconic to the Florida summer coastal scene than Sea oats (Uniola paniculata) swaying to the sea breeze in the dunes. The flowers of this tall and sprawling grass provide pollen to a variety of insects, and the seeds are eaten by beach mice, rabbits and birds.
Lopsided indiangrass (Sorghastrum secundum) is a robust and unique perennial bunchgrass. Throughout most of the year, it is rather indistinct. But in late summer, it produces tall, dramatic flower spikes. It occurs naturally in pinelands, sandhills and flatwoods. It is the larval host plant for the Delaware skipper, dusted skipper and swarthy skipper.
Wiregrass (Aristida stricta) is a perennial bunchgrass found in scrub, pinelands and coastal uplands throughout much of Florida. It is is a primary food source for gopher tortoises.
Elliott’s lovegrass (Eragrostis elliottii) is a perennial bunchgrass with an abundance of delicate flowers that cover the plant in a billowy beige haze.
Nothing says fall in Florida like the purple haze of Muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) in bloom. When planted en masse, this perennial bunchgrass puts on a spectacular fall display.
