When does Fowl Manna Grass bloom?

Fowl Manna Grass typically flowers from May through July, producing airy, drooping seed heads on tall stems.

How much light does Fowl Manna Grass need?

It grows best in part shade, tolerating conditions from part sun to fuller shade, especially where soil moisture stays high.

What kind of soil moisture does Fowl Manna Grass require?

This grass needs consistently wet to moist soil and is often found along stream edges, wet meadows, and seasonally flooded ground.

Is Fowl Manna Grass a good choice for a rain garden?

Yes, its high water needs and tolerance of part shade make it well suited to rain gardens, pond margins, and other consistently damp sites.

Is Fowl Manna Grass toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Fowl Manna Grass as toxic to livestock.

Is Fowl Manna Grass HOA-friendly?

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

Fowl Manna Grass

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Glyceria striata

Last reviewed: August 2026

Fowl Manna Grass is a moisture loving grass found in wet meadows, marshes and streambanks, blooming May through July. It grows best in part shade with consistently damp soil.

Toxicity unknown

Fowl Manna Grass (Glyceria striata) 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 Fowl Manna Grass as toxic to livestock.

Light

part shade

Water

high

Size

12"–48" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 44 more states

Deer

Resistant (per Prairie Moon Nursery)

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

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Fowl manna grass is a native wetland grass that forms clumps of narrow green leaves reaching 1-4 feet tall. It produces delicate seed heads from May through July and thrives in consistently moist to wet soils in partial shade. This grass is best suited for rain gardens, pond edges, or other water features where it can receive the high moisture it requires.

Growing Fowl Manna Grass

Grow Fowl Manna Grass in part shade and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 48 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Fowl Manna Grass takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Requires consistently wet conditions that are difficult to maintain in typical landscapes
Can appear weedy or unkempt compared to traditional turf grass
May spread beyond intended boundaries in moist conditions

Wildlife value

The seeds provide food for waterfowl and songbirds, while the dense clumps offer nesting habitat for birds. As a native grass, it supports various insects that feed on grasses and sedges.

Common questions

When does Fowl Manna Grass bloom?: Fowl Manna Grass typically flowers from May through July, producing airy, drooping seed heads on tall stems.
How much light does Fowl Manna Grass need?: It grows best in part shade, tolerating conditions from part sun to fuller shade, especially where soil moisture stays high.
What kind of soil moisture does Fowl Manna Grass require?: This grass needs consistently wet to moist soil and is often found along stream edges, wet meadows, and seasonally flooded ground.
Is Fowl Manna Grass a good choice for a rain garden?: Yes, its high water needs and tolerance of part shade make it well suited to rain gardens, pond margins, and other consistently damp sites.
Is Fowl Manna Grass toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Fowl Manna Grass as toxic to livestock.
Is Fowl Manna Grass HOA-friendly?: Fowl Manna Grass 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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