Beaked Panicgrass
Coleataenia anceps
Last reviewed: August 2026
Coleataenia anceps, or Beaked Panicgrass, is a perennial grass that blooms from June through September in full sun with medium to wet soil, often seen in moist meadows, pinelands and roadside ditches.
Toxicity unknown
Beaked Panicgrass (Coleataenia anceps) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
24"–48" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, AR, DE, FL and 21 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
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Beaked panicgrass is a native grass that forms upright clumps with narrow leaves and delicate seed heads. It blooms from June through September with airy panicles that add movement and texture to the landscape. This drought-tolerant perennial goes dormant in winter, turning golden brown before new growth emerges in spring.
Growing Beaked Panicgrass
Grow Beaked Panicgrass in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Beaked Panicgrass takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Tall informal growth habit looks too wild for front yards
- Seed heads may be perceived as weedy
- Dormant winter appearance is brown and scraggly
Wildlife value
The flowers attract bees and beetles during the long blooming season. Seeds provide food for birds and small mammals in fall and winter.
Common questions
- When does Beaked Panicgrass bloom?
- Beaked Panicgrass blooms from June through September, sending up narrow branching flower spikes above the foliage.
- What growing conditions does Beaked Panicgrass need?
- It grows best in full sun to part sun with medium to consistently moist soil, and it handles brief wet spells well without struggling.
- Does Beaked Panicgrass support pollinators?
- Bees and beetles are known to make use of Beaked Panicgrass, which also offers cover in wet meadows and open pine woodlands.
- Is Beaked Panicgrass evergreen or does it die back?
- It is a deciduous perennial grass that dies back to its root crown each winter and sends up new growth in spring.
- Is Beaked Panicgrass HOA-friendly?
- Beaked Panicgrass takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Beaked Panicgrass? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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