Narrowleaf Silkgrass

Scientific Name: Pityopsis graminifolia (Michx.) Nutt.

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