Species European Beachgrass
light-yellow flowers with yellow-green foliage

European Beachgrass

Ammophila arenaria

European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) is a species of dune-building grass found along the coastlines of Europe and North America. It is an important stabilizer in sandy regions, forming large egg-shaped clusters to keep sand in place and prevent erosion. Its blades are coarse and deeply-ridged, growing up to 45 cm long with thick, fibrous roots. Its off-white flowers grow up to 50 cm tall with a spike of brownish-yellow seeds. Its strong adaptability makes it an essential plant for sandy coastlines and barrier islands, playing a vital role in the coastal ecosystem.

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun

Growth Rate:

High

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

European Beachgrass should be watered thoroughly about once a week, or when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. When watering, make sure to soak the soil evenly and deeply, so the moisture reaches all of the roots. Overwatering can cause fungal diseases, so make sure that the soil is not overly saturated.

sunlight

European Beachgrass is a species of grass that requires full sun for proper growth and development. Specific light requirements vary based on the geographic location of the plant, with European Beachgrass generally preferring 6 to 8 hours of daily direct sunlight. In more northern regions of the continent, the plant can tolerate up to 10 hours of daily direct sunlight. In the southern United States, it is recommended that European Beachgrass is grown in partial shade since full sun can be more intense in these regions. In autumn and winter, when the sun is not as strong and the days are shorter in length, it is advised that European Beachgrass is given several hours of indirect sunlight each day.

pruning

European Beachgrass should be pruned once a year in late summer/early fall. Pruning should be done relatively aggressively, as it can grow to be quite invasive. The plant should be cut back to just 6-8 inches above ground level. Doing this will promote new growth, while cutting back on the amount of invasive mature grass.