Species American beakgrain
purple-green buds and purple flowers on a lime-green stem and a dark-green leaf

American beakgrain

Diarrhena americana

The American Beakgrain (Diarrhena americana) is an amazing grass species that's native to North America and is well known for its many varied uses. It forms attractive tufts of long, slender, light-green leaves and produces small grain-like flowers in late summer and early fall. Beakgrain has an extensive root system that helps to improve soils and it's great for erosion control, making it a valuable resource for agricultural and landscaping uses. Furthermore, the long narrow leaves and attractive blooms make it an ideal choice for gardeners and landscapers alike. Lastly, its nutritious grains make it an excellent food source for birds and other wildlife. American Beakgrain is an amazing species that offers many uses and benefits to both humans and wildlife.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 8

Flowers:

Flowers

Sun:

Part shade,full shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

American beakgrass (Diarrhena americana) should typically be watered once a week during the summer months. When watering the grass, give it a good soaking until the soil is moist, but not soggy. Water in the morning, so that moisture can evaporate throughout the day. During the cooler months, water less often. This grass is drought-tolerant and can tolerate periods of dryness. Reduce watering to once every 2 weeks.

sunlight

American Beakgrass is a species of grass that grows best in direct sunlight. It does best when it gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day, and the more light it receives, the taller and healthier the plant will be. In general, the grass should have access to direct sunlight for most of the day. During the peak summer months, the grass will thrive with even more hours of direct sunlight. To ensure its optimal growth, it is best to place the grass in a location that gets full sun during the day and partial shade during the hottest and most intense times of the day.

pruning

For American beakgrain, or Diarrhena americana, pruning should be done twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. In the spring, lightly trim off dead foliage and branches, pruning to a neat shape. In the fall, cut the plant back by about a third of its size. This will help to keep the plant healthy and encourage new growth.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

American beakgrain typically starts flowering in May.

Hardiness Map