Plant of the Week: Bottlebrush Threeawn (Aristida Spiciformis)

Now I know this probably sounds dorky, but I absolutely have favorite grasses! And bottlebrush threeawn (Aristida spiciformis) has to be in my top five. This native species started popping up in a pine flatwoods area after we burned it, and every fall it comes back in greater numbers (so I must be doing something right as a land manager!).

Grasses are often overlooked by people. Often one looks out and sees just one type of grass like St. Augustine or bermuda (a non-native used in sports fields that readily escapes cultivation and displaces natives). However, there are a wealth of grasses out there; it is often hard to tell two species apart and sometimes can only be done using a loop (magnifying glass) and looking at seeds! Native grasses are important for our wildlife though, and there are many beautiful grasses that can be used in landscaping (such as muhly {Muhlenbergia capillaris} and Fakahatchee {Tripsacum dactyloides}).