Sawgrass
Cladium jamaicense
Last reviewed: August 2026
Cladium jamaicense, commonly called sawgrass, is a tall sedge-like grass of marshes, wet prairies and shallow water margins across the Gulf Coast and Southeast, blooming from March into November in full sun with consistently wet to moist soil.
Toxicity unknown
Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) 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
96"–120" H × 24"–60" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Native to
AL, AR, FL, GA and 6 more states
Pollinators
moths
Before you buy
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Sawgrass is a tall, robust native sedge that forms dense clumps of sharp-edged leaves. This wetland plant thrives in consistently moist to wet soils and produces small brownish flower clusters from spring through fall.
Growing Sawgrass
Grow Sawgrass in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 96 to 120 inches tall and spread 24 to 60 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Sawgrass 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.
- Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
The long blooming period provides nectar for moths and other nighttime pollinators. Dense clumps offer excellent nesting sites and cover for wetland birds and small wildlife.
Common questions
- How much light does sawgrass need to grow well?
- Sawgrass grows best in full sun and will also tolerate the lighter shade found at the edges of marshes and wet meadows, but dense shade slows its growth.
- What kind of soil moisture does sawgrass require?
- Sawgrass is a wetland plant and does well in standing water or saturated soil, though established stands can handle periods of medium moisture between wet spells.
- When does sawgrass bloom?
- Sawgrass produces its inconspicuous flower spikes from March through November, with flowering activity peaking during the warmer spring and summer months.
- Does sawgrass stay green year round?
- In warm, consistently wet sites sawgrass keeps its sharp-edged leaves green through most of the year, though foliage can brown back after hard freezes.
- What pollinates sawgrass?
- Sawgrass flowers are visited by moths, though like many grasses it also relies heavily on wind for pollen dispersal.
- Is Sawgrass HOA-friendly?
- Sawgrass 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 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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Sawgrass? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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