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Redtop Panicgrass

Coleataenia rigidula

Last reviewed: September 2026

Coleataenia rigidula, or redtop panicgrass, is a warm season perennial grass that blooms June through September, thriving in full sun with medium moisture in wet meadows, marsh edges and roadside ditches.

Redtop Panicgrass (Coleataenia rigidula)
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Toxicity unknown

Redtop Panicgrass (Coleataenia rigidula) 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

full sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, CA, CT and 30 more states

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Redtop panicgrass is a native bunch grass that forms neat, upright clumps with fine-textured foliage. It produces delicate, airy seed heads from summer through early fall that add graceful movement to the landscape.

Growing Redtop Panicgrass

Grow Redtop Panicgrass in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 6 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

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How to care for Redtop Panicgrass, by region

How to care for Redtop Panicgrass where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.

Care guidance last updated: October 2026

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Central Appalachians (includes Johnstown, PA)

Year-round

Year-round care for redtop panicgrass around Johnstown, PA: full or partial sun, consistently moist to wet soil.

  • It grows best in full sun and also takes partial sun.
  • It prefers wet to consistently moist conditions.
  • Temporary standing water is tolerated.
  • It grows in sandy or non-sandy soil with plenty of decayed organic matter.
  • Plants run about 2 to 4 feet tall.
  • It is described as easy to establish and performs well in water garden settings.

A mass planting of this bunch grass along a rain garden or pond edge looks soft and planned, with clear edges keeping it neat.

Sources: Illinois Wildflowers: Coleataenia rigidula, Roundstone Native Seed: Coleataenia rigidula

In an HOA neighborhood

Redtop Panicgrass is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

The seed heads provide food for songbirds and small mammals. As a native grass, it supports various insects and adds habitat structure for ground-dwelling wildlife.

Common questions

What growing conditions does redtop panicgrass prefer?
Redtop panicgrass grows best in full sun with medium, consistent soil moisture. It is often found in low, moist spots such as wet meadows, ditches and pond margins.
When does Coleataenia rigidula bloom?
It blooms from June through September, producing airy, branched seed heads typical of panicgrasses.
Is redtop panicgrass a warm season or cool season grass?
It is a warm season perennial bunchgrass, meaning it grows most actively in the heat of late spring and summer before going dormant in winter.
Does redtop panicgrass tolerate wet soil?
Yes, it handles consistently moist to seasonally wet soil well, which makes it useful along pond edges, low meadows and drainage areas.
Is Redtop Panicgrass HOA-friendly?
Redtop Panicgrass is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

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

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