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Bosc's Witchgrass

Dichanthelium boscii

Last reviewed: June 2026

Bosc's Witchgrass (Dichanthelium boscii)
Photo: Doug Goldman. USDA-NRCS-NPDT United States, NC, Carteret Co., Croatan National Forest. May 18, 2011. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Toxicity unknown

Bosc's Witchgrass (Dichanthelium boscii) 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

part sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 23 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 437 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

South Central PlainsEastern Temperate ForestsOzark HighlandsPiedmontEastern Corn Belt PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Valley Loess PlainsSouthern Coastal PlainAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Bosc's panicgrass is a native warm-season grass that forms loose clumps with soft, arching foliage. It produces delicate seed heads from late spring through fall and turns golden brown in winter before going dormant.

In an HOA neighborhood

Bosc's Witchgrass 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.

  • Looks wild and unstructured compared to traditional lawn grasses
  • Can appear messy when seed heads mature
  • May be mistaken for weedy grass by neighbors

Wildlife value

The seeds provide food for songbirds and small mammals. As a native grass, it supports various insects and their larvae that birds depend on.

Common questions

How much sun does Bosc's Witchgrass need?
Bosc's Witchgrass grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Bosc's Witchgrass bloom?
Bosc's Witchgrass blooms in May, June, July, August, and September.
Where is Bosc's Witchgrass native?
Bosc's Witchgrass (Dichanthelium boscii) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 23 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
Is Bosc's Witchgrass HOA-friendly?
Bosc's Witchgrass takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

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.

Ready to grow Bosc's Witchgrass? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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