Species American Beachgrass
green-brown foliage

American Beachgrass

Ammophila breviligulata

Also Known As - Marram Grass
American Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) is a common sand dune plant in the Atlantic Coast from New Brunswick to Virginia. It is a hardy, salt-tolerant grass with narrow and pointed blades, growing in clumps of tufts that can reach up to two feet tall. Its rhizomes extend deep into sandy substrate and anchor the sand against the wind and waves. Beachgrass is an important stabilizer of coastal sand dunes and provides shelter and nesting ground for shorebirds, making it an important part of coastal ecosystems. Its flowering time is from July to August, bearing spikelets of egg-shaped terminal heads that contain brown grains.

Watering:

Frequent

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.

Season

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

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