Danthonia sericea

Common Names

Downy Oatgrass, Downy Danthonia, Silky Oatgrass

Summary

Sources describe a native perennial grass, Silky Oatgrass or Downy Danthonia, of the Poaceae family, occurring in the eastern United States with Coastal Plain distribution from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Texas, in dry woodlands, forest edges, sandy barrens, and rocky outcrops, it forms dense, tufted clumps with rhizomatous roots and arching to erect culms typically about 0.9–1.8 m tall, leaves are narrow, 5–20 cm long and 2–4 mm wide, with silky white hairs on the lower surface, the open to contracted panicle bears very small spikelets, and seed heads develop conspicuous bristles and awns, with twisted lemma awns forming a tiny pedestal for ornamental interest, sources note full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils, tolerating dry conditions with acidic to neutral pH (roughly 6.0–8.0), drought tolerance once established and a height of about 0.9–1.8 m with a 0.3–0.9 m spread, it is hardy in USDA zones 6a–9b and can be propagated by seed (direct sow in late fall or early spring with light soil moisture for 2–4 weeks) or by dividing clumps in early spring or fall, in landscapes it provides habitat for native bees and ornamental interest from seed-head bristles and awns

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1.5-6 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6a-9b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight per day); tolerates partial shade (2–6 hours).

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy soils, dry and acidic to neutral pH

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

<6.0-8.0, Acid to neutral

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees