Deertongue

Dichanthelium clandestinum (dy-kan-THEL-ee-um klan-des-TY-num)

Family: Poaceae Native Herbaceous

Deer-tongue Witchgrass is a native ornamental perennial grass found in shady moist woodland areas, in moist sandy soil, in ditches, and along roadsides. The winter rosettes of this plant make a good evergreen groundcover. The culms, or stems of the grass plant, are unbranched in spring, but branch occasionally in the fall, with 10 inch long leaves along each stem. The leaf sheaths are light green or yellowish green, longitudinally veined, and either hairless or hairy; the upper sheaths are especially likely to be hairy. In spring, each stem terminates in a panicle of spikelets 2 1/2 to 6 inches long. The stem continues to grow and, by fall, has developed secondary branches that make the plant taller. The fall stems and leaves are the same as spring stems and leaves; however, the fall flowers are smaller and remain inside the leaf sheaths. After hard frost kills the fall stems and leaves, they are replaced by low winter rosettes of basal leaves. The root system is rhizomatous and can form colonies. The genus name comes from the Greek words di, meaning twice, and anth, meaning flowering, referring to plants that may have two flowering periods. The species name means hidden, referring to the tiny flowers that hide within the leaves. Deer-tongue Witchgrass prefers partial sun, moist conditions, and sandy soil. Under ideal conditions, this grass can spread aggressively. Because the plant tolerates acid soils and thin, infertile soils, it can be used to re-vegetate reclaimed land such as mine spoils. Diseases, Insect Pests and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 52 attributes.