Poaceae
Pimento grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum
Also known as Rottboellia paleacea, Ischaemum secundatum, Rottboellia tripsacoides, Citronella grass
Zones 4–9Sun Full SunWater ModerateCare Low
Tropical Plants · Native Plants · Grass · Perennial · Warm-Season · Turf · Tropical · Heat-Tolerant · Low-Maintenance · Ground-Cover
Pet-safeBeginner-friendlyTropical
Currently out of stock everywhereStock updated 9/6/2026
Pimento grass is a warm-season perennial grass that thrives in full sun and well-draining soil. It requires minimal maintenance once established and is heat tolerant. Water regularly during establishment but reduce frequency once the grass is mature.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply when top inch of soil is dry · Weekly or as needed
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 4.8–7.5
- Temperature
- -30°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4a-9b
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Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 2.5 ft
- Spread
- 18 in
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Green · Coarse
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Algeria, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Ascension, Austria, Azores, Bahamas, Baleares, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Burkina, California, Cameroon, Canary Is.
Sources: trefle, usda
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