Eastern Gamagrass (Blackland) Roots

Usually 2-3 ft. in height, Eastern Gamagrass can grow up to 10 ft. tall in deeper Blackland soils. As a landscape plant, it can stand alone as a focal interest point, in free-form colonies, or buffer-screens like pampas grass. The dense foliage of this tall, thick clumpgrass provides much needed cover and habitat for birds and small mammals and is a larval food source for many species of butterflies and the rare moth Amphipoea erepta. Eastern Gamagrass is a perennial, and is an ancestor to our present-day annual food staple corn. Upon close observation, the interesting seed stems have a striking resemblance to the silks and tassels found on corn. When ripe, Eastern Gama produces single lines of large, hard, yellowish “corn kernels” stacked end to end. As you can imagine, turkey, quail, dove, and deer love them. Eastern Gamagrass is a native that adds sustainability, diversity, and enjoyment to any landscape.