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Coastal Plain Witchgrass

Dichanthelium longiligulatum

Last reviewed: August 2026

Coastal Plain Witchgrass (Dichanthelium longiligulatum)
Photo: (c) Nathan Aaron, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nathan Aaron

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

8"–24" H × 4"–12" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, DE, FL and 17 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 432 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

White-haired panic grass is a native perennial bunch grass that forms neat, upright clumps. It produces delicate seed heads from summer through fall and provides fine texture in the landscape.

In an HOA neighborhood

Coastal Plain 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.

  • Appears too informal and wild for typical HOA standards
  • May be mistaken for weedy grass by neighbors
  • Seed heads can look untidy to conventional gardeners

Wildlife value

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

Common questions

How much sun does Coastal Plain Witchgrass need?
Coastal Plain Witchgrass grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Coastal Plain Witchgrass bloom?
Coastal Plain Witchgrass blooms in June, July, August, and September.
Where is Coastal Plain Witchgrass native?
Coastal Plain Witchgrass (Dichanthelium longiligulatum) is native to AL, AR, DE, FL and 17 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Coastal Plain Witchgrass HOA-friendly?
Coastal Plain 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 the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

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

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