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

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting,Layering Propagation,Stolon,Rhizome Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Flowers:

Yellow Flowers

Sun:

Sun

Soil:

Sand

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,yellow

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Moderate

watering

American Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) should be watered once per week during the summer, although in hotter climates the frequency may need to increase to once every 4 to 5 days. During the fall and winter, allow the top 1 to 1.5 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Give the plant enough water to moisten the soil without waterlogging it. Avoid overhead watering whenever possible, and take extra caution to water the beachgrass near the base and not near the foliage. Watering should be done in the morning or evening to minimize evaporation.

sunlight

American Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) thrives in full sun conditions. It typically requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day and prefers the temperatures in full sun exposures. While it will survive in shady parts of a garden, its growth is usually stunted and it may not flower as well in those conditions. In areas where the summers are particularly hot, it is recommended to provide some light afternoon shade.

pruning

American Beachgrass should be pruned twice a year, in spring and fall. In the spring, prune the old grass back to about 6 inches to promote new, healthy growth. During the fall, prune back the new growth to 3 to 4 inches long. Without any additional trimming, American Beachgrass can become dense and overly thick. Taking away excess height and width helps to maintain an attractive growth rate and structure. Removing both the old and new growth helps American Beachgrass grow in a more uniform and controlled manner.

Season

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

American Beachgrass typically starts flowering in June.