Wiregrass (Aristida stricta var. beyrichiana): Keystone Species of Longleaf Pine Ecosystems

Overview

Wiregrass is a perennial bunchgrass native to the southeastern US coastal plain. It forms dense, wiry tufts of narrow, rolled leaves. It is the dominant groundcover in longleaf pine savannas and is fire-adapted, flowering prolifically after spring burns. Its seeds have three distinctive awns.

Taxonomy & Nomenclature

Synonym: Aristida beyrichiana.

Cultivation & Uses

Full sun; sandy, acidic, well-drained, low-nutrient soil. Essential for ecological restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems. Not typically grown as an ornamental. Requires fire or mowing to maintain vigor and flowering. Provides critical habitat for gopher tortoise, quail, and many other species.