How much sun does Deertongue panicgrass need?

Deertongue panicgrass grows best in part sun conditions.

When does Deertongue panicgrass bloom?

Deertongue panicgrass blooms in July, August, and September.

Where is Deertongue panicgrass native?

Deertongue panicgrass (Panicum clandestinum) is native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 30 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What butterflies or moths does Deertongue panicgrass host?

Deertongue panicgrass is a larval host plant for little glassywing.

Deertongue panicgrass

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Panicum clandestinum

Last reviewed: November 2026

Deertongue panicgrass (Panicum clandestinum) is a perennial grass native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 30 more states. It blooms in July, August, and September. The flowers draw wind pollinated.

Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Deertongue panicgrass, free in the app.

Toxicity unknown

Deertongue panicgrass (Panicum clandestinum) 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

24"–48" H × 18"–30" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DC and 30 more states

Pollinators

wind pollinated

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 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Deertongue panicgrass.

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A coarse, broad-leaved perennial grass with wide flat leaves and open flower panicles that emerge from the leaf sheaths. Spreads readily by rhizomes into loose, sprawling clumps at woodland edges and old fields.

Growing Deertongue panicgrass

Grow Deertongue panicgrass in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 18 to 30 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Host plant for little glassywing.

Seeds feed birds and small mammals, and the foliage is a larval host for the little glassywing skipper butterfly.

Common questions

How much sun does Deertongue panicgrass need?: Deertongue panicgrass grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Deertongue panicgrass bloom?: Deertongue panicgrass blooms in July, August, and September.
Where is Deertongue panicgrass native?: Deertongue panicgrass (Panicum clandestinum) is native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 30 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What butterflies or moths does Deertongue panicgrass host?: Deertongue panicgrass is a larval host plant for little glassywing.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Deertongue panicgrass? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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