Sporobolus anglicus
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Sporobolus anglicus

Common cord grass · Rice grass · Townsends grass · English cordgrass

Tier 2 Difficulty: easy Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
5–35 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 5–9
Click count
6
Observations
47

Description

Source: wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Sporobolus anglicus is a hybrid-derived species of cordgrass that originated in southern England in about 1870 and is a neonative species in Britain. It was reclassified as Sporobolus anglicus after a taxonomic revision in 2014, but its previous name, Spartina anglica is still in common usage. It is an allotetraploid species derived from the hybrid Sporobolus × townsendii, which arose when the European native cordgrass Sporobolus maritimus hybridized with the introduced American Sporobolus alterniflorus.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun

Common cordgrass is a sun-loving perennial herbaceous plant native to open habitats, commonly growing in meadows and grasslands. It prefers full sun but can also tolerate partial sunlight.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 5–35°C

Common cordgrass comes from tropical areas, which are generally warm and humid. Consequently, it is adapted to high temperatures and humidity. It is sensitive to abrupt temperature changes and prefers a steady thermal environment, so avoiding temperature fluctuations indoors is important. It typically does not tolerate cold and needs warmer conditions to grow. If the surrounding temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 5–35°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

Common cordgrass needs extra nutrients to encourage healthy new growth. In spring, applying compost around the base of the plant can effectively supply the nourishment it requires. Fertilizing helps support vigorous growth and improves the plant's resistance to diseases and pests.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

Common cordgrass thrives in estuarine habitats due to its salt tolerance. To encourage new growth and prevent overcrowding, prune the plant in early spring by removing old stems. Focus on cutting away dead or diseased parts and thinning dense areas to improve air circulation and light penetration.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Grass
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Sporobolus
Family
Poaceae
Hardiness Zone
5-9
Mature Height
0.3 m to 1.22 m
Mature Spread
20 cm to 49 cm
Leaf Color
Dark Green
Leaf Type
Semi-evergreen
Flower Color
White
Flower Size
0.51 cm to 1.02 cm
Bloom Time
Mid summer, Late summer, Early fall
Planting Time
Spring, Autumn
Harvest Time
Fall
Native Area
Cyprus, United Kingdom

Tags (4)

Common Names (4)

en Common cord grass
en Rice grass
en Townsends grass
en English cordgrass