Narrowleaf Silkgrass
Silvery grass-like leaves and yellow fall flowers. It thrives on dry sand and neglect.
Silvery grass-like foliage most of the year, then a haze of little yellow daisies in fall.
Why it works here
It is not a true grass, but the narrow silvery leaves read like one, so it gives you that soft grassy texture without the bulk of an ornamental grass. It grows in dry sandy scrub and flatwoods all over the state, which is exactly our soil, and it asks for almost no water. The silvery low mat looks good for most of the year, then in fall it sends up wands of small yellow daisies that pollinators swarm. One study counted over 30 bee species on it. I use it as a low, drought-proof groundcover or a front-of-bed filler.
Care
Full sun and sandy, well-drained soil is all it wants. Water to establish, then it fends for itself. It spreads slowly by underground stems into a small mat, so give it room and do not crowd it, taller neighbors will shade it out. After it finishes flowering, cut the spent bloom stalks back to keep it neat and let the silvery basal foliage show. Compost and mulch lightly at planting, no synthetic feed needed.
Common problems
Gets overtopped: it is short and does not compete well. Keep taller, faster plants off of it so it gets its sun.
Short-lived per plant: individual plants are not long-lived, but it spreads and reseeds, so a patch persists.
Otherwise basically trouble-free. No real pest or disease issues in my experience.
Common questions
Is this an actual grass?
No, it is a wildflower in the aster family with grass-like leaves. That is why you get real flowers out of it, unlike a true grass.
How much water does it need?
Very little once it is rooted in. It is a dry-scrub plant, so it is one of the most drought-tolerant things I can put in a sunny sandy bed.
Will it spread and cover ground?
Slowly, yes, into a low silvery mat. It is not aggressive, so it fills in as a modest groundcover rather than taking over.
Interested in a narrowleaf silkgrass in your landscape?
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