When does rice cutgrass bloom?

Rice cutgrass flowers from July through September, producing small greenish spikelets rather than showy blooms.

What growing conditions does rice cutgrass need?

This grass needs consistently wet to saturated soil and does well in full sun to part shade, often growing in shallow water along pond edges, ditches and slow-moving streams.

Does rice cutgrass attract pollinators?

No specific pollinators have been documented for rice cutgrass. Like most grasses, it is wind pollinated rather than dependent on insects.

Where does rice cutgrass grow well in a landscape?

Because it tolerates standing water and consistently wet soil, rice cutgrass works well along the wettest zones of a rain garden, ditch bank, or pond margin where many other grasses struggle.

Is Cutgrass toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Cutgrass as toxic to livestock.

Is Cutgrass HOA-friendly?

Cutgrass takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Cutgrass

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Leersia oryzoides

Last reviewed: August 2026

Leersia oryzoides, or rice cutgrass, is a wetland grass found along stream banks, ditches and marsh edges, blooming from July through September with small greenish spikelets.

Toxicity unknown

Cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides) 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.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Cutgrass as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

12"–40" H × 6"–24" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 44 more states

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Cutgrass is a wetland grass that forms loose clumps in moist to wet soils. It produces inconspicuous flower spikes in late summer and requires consistently high moisture levels to thrive. The grass has a somewhat informal appearance and can become quite tall during the growing season.

Growing Cutgrass

Grow Cutgrass in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 40 inches tall and spread 6 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Cutgrass 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.

Requires wetland conditions that are impractical for most residential settings
Informal growth habit looks too wild for maintained landscapes
Height and spreading nature can appear unkempt

Wildlife value

This grass provides habitat and nesting material for waterfowl and wetland birds. The seeds offer food for various bird species, particularly those associated with wetland environments.

Common questions

When does rice cutgrass bloom?: Rice cutgrass flowers from July through September, producing small greenish spikelets rather than showy blooms.
What growing conditions does rice cutgrass need?: This grass needs consistently wet to saturated soil and does well in full sun to part shade, often growing in shallow water along pond edges, ditches and slow-moving streams.
Does rice cutgrass attract pollinators?: No specific pollinators have been documented for rice cutgrass. Like most grasses, it is wind pollinated rather than dependent on insects.
Where does rice cutgrass grow well in a landscape?: Because it tolerates standing water and consistently wet soil, rice cutgrass works well along the wettest zones of a rain garden, ditch bank, or pond margin where many other grasses struggle.
Is Cutgrass toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Cutgrass as toxic to livestock.
Is Cutgrass HOA-friendly?: Cutgrass 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

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