Narrowleaf Silkgrass

Scientific Name: Pityopsis graminifolia (Michx.) Nutt.

Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Asteridae / Asterales / Asteraceae / Compositae / Pityopsis Nutt./ Pityopsis graminifolia (Michx.) Nutt.

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General Information
Usda SymbolPIGR4
GroupDicot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsForb/herb
Native LocationsPIGR4

Plant Guide

Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Narrowleaf Silkgrass.

Fact Sheet

Alternate Names

Chrysopsis graminifolia (Michx.) Ell.; Heterotheca graminifolia (Michx.) Shinners; grassleaf golden aster; silk-grass

Uses

Narrowleaf silkgrass has its greatest potential as a component of conservation mixes. It thrives in roadside or ornamental plantings in dry, sunny locations. It will quickly spread by underground stems (rhizomes) to form thick colonies. The plant will also perform well in ornamental perennial gardens, where it should be placed in front of taller wildflowers. It is a useful component for xeriscaping. It is grazed by livestock and wildlife, its rhizomatous growth habit is useful for controlling upland erosion

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your state department of natural resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Potential Weediness

Weediness

Weediness

Narrowleaf silkgrass spreads by seed and rhizomes. It can form large colonies on poor soils but does not displace other plants. Seed is carried by the wind up to several hundred yards. Seed establishment through stands of other vegetation is minimal. In a landscape or garden setting plants expand in size similar to other garden perennials.

Description and Adaptation

Adaptation , Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Narrowleaf Silkgrass.

Adaptation

Narrowleaf silkgrass, Pityopsis graminifolia, is a native, warm-season, rhizomatous, perennial wildflower. It will grow to a height of 1 to 3 feet with equal or slightly greater spread. It has linear, grass-like leaves with parallel venation; lower leaves are up to 10 inches long by ¾ inch wide, becoming progressively smaller up the stems. Both the leaves and stems are covered with a whitish, silky hair that gives the plant a silvery appearance from a distance. Bright yellow composite flower heads occur in clusters at the end of branches from September through October in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. Seeds are 1/16 of an inch long and linear-shaped. Seeds turn from tan to dark brown at maturity and are easily pulled off the seed heads. Narrowleaf silkgrass is found on sandy or shaley, dry soils from Delaware to Ohio and south to Texas and Florida (USDA hardiness zones 5 – 9). For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site, http://plants.usda.gov/.

Establishment

Field Establishment from Seed Narrowleaf silkgrass can be direct sowed by drilling seed at the rate of 2.5 lbs. (pure live de-bearded seed) per acre at a depth of a 1/4 inch or less. Seeding should occur in April/May for the Mid-Atlantic U.S. This planting date would need to be shifted to earlier dates in more southern sites (i.e. March/April in North Carolina, February/early March in Florida). It is very important to control broadleaf weeds before planting. Treat the field with glyphosate at least 10 days prior to control aggressive species such as tall fescue, clover or crown vetch which will out-compete narrowleaf silkgrass seedlings. There are approximately 642,900 narrowleaf silkgrass seeds per pound. Field Establishment from Plugs In order to produce plugs, sow seed on germination mix. A pre-germination cold treatment is not necessary. Germination generally occurs 9 to 12 days after sowing. After four weeks, seedlings may

http://plants.usda.gov/ be transplanted into larger plugs. Maintain seedlings under long-days (>14 hrs.) to prevent premature flowering in the spring. The best planting date for plugs is May for the Mid-Atlantic U.S., as narrowleaf silkgrass is a warm-season perennial. As with seed, planting dates this should be shifted to earlier dates for planting in more southern sites

Management

Weed

Control

In conservation plantings due to the strong spreading nature of narrowleaf silkgrass, weed control typically is not a major concern. However in some situations weeds may be problematic, mowing and spot herbicide applications are the two best weed control options. Mowing at a height of 4’ – 6’ is an effective way to control taller growing weeds. Stop mowing when flower buds of silkgrass emerge in late summer (MD). Established stands are also tolerant of late winter/early spring burning. Be aware though that burning the foliage creates a thick smoke due to the resins in the leaves. Pre-emergent herbicides Treflan™ (trifluralin) and Surflan™ (oryzalin) have been used successfully to prevent weed seed germination in established stands. Yellow nutsedge has also been controlled effectively by the selective post-emergent herbicide Manage™. For seed production fields, a multivator type cultivator (spaced on 4’ rows) will reduce weed competition. Cultivate areas around the plants only during early stages of growth as you might damage rhizomes of older plants. Alternately, planting a cover crop of hard fescue or red fescue between rows when plugs are transplanted will limit weed competition.

Irrigation

Supplemental watering may be needed if droughty conditions arise after planting during the first season. An established stand can tolerate dry conditions and will not require irrigation.

Fertilization

Fertilization during the establishment is not recommended. Established stands can be fertilized according to soil test results. In nitrogen deficient soils 30 – 50 lbs. nitrogen/acre applied will help maintain stands.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)-3
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
CaCO3 ToleranceMedium
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Drought ToleranceHigh
Fertility RequirementLow
Fire ToleranceHigh
Frost Free Days, Minimum240
Hedge ToleranceNone
Moisture UseMedium
pH, Maximum7.0
pH, Minimum5.8
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim4800
Planting Density per Acre, Minim2700
Precipitation, Maximum55
Precipitation, Minimum32
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)10
Salinity ToleranceNone
Shade ToleranceIntermediate


Morphology/Physiology

After Harvest Regrowth RateSlow
ToxicityNone
Resprout AbilityNo
Shape and OrientationSemi-Erect
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
BloatNone
C:N RatioMedium
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorWhite
Flower ConspicuousYes
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerPorous
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Nitrogen FixationNone
Low Growing GrassNo
LifespanModerate
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)2.8
Growth RateSlow
Growth FormRhizomatous
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Foliage TextureMedium


Reproduction

Vegetative Spread RateSlow
Small GrainNo
Seedling VigorMedium
Seed Spread RateSlow
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Seed per Pound375000
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsYes
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Fruit/Seed PersistenceYes
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed AbundanceMedium
Commercial AvailabilityNo Known Source
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Propagated by CuttingsNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
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