trefle.io · Taken Nov 14, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)
Poaceae
Black spear grass
Heteropogon contortus
Also known as Heteropogon contortus, Tanglehead grass, Black speargrass, Heteropogon fischerianus
Tropical Plants · Native Plants · Spear Grass · Warm Season · Erosion Control · Drought Tolerant · Full Sun · Slope Stabilization · Tropical · Native Grass
Black spear grass is a warm-season perennial that requires full sun and good drainage. It's moderately drought tolerant once established but needs regular watering during the growing season. This grass works well for erosion control on slopes and in naturalized landscapes.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 8 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply but infrequently, allowing soil to dry between waterings · Every 10-14 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6–8
- Temperature
- -20°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 5a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 18 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Ascension, Assam, Baleares, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil North, Burkina, Burundi, California
- Attracts
- Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
Buy this plant
No nurseries currently list it
No nursery lists Black spear grass right now.