Sugarcane Plumegrass: A Towering Native Grass for Bold Landscapes
If you’re looking to add some serious height and drama to your native plant garden, meet sugarcane plumegrass (Saccharum giganteum) – a grass that definitely lives up to its giganteum name! This impressive native perennial can transform any landscape with its towering presence and graceful, feathery plumes.
What Makes Sugarcane Plumegrass Special?
Sugarcane plumegrass is a true American native, naturally occurring across 21 states from the Atlantic coast to the Great Plains. You might also see it listed under its former botanical names like Erianthus giganteus, but don’t let the name changes fool you – this is the same magnificent grass that’s been gracing our native landscapes for centuries.
This perennial bunch grass is a real showstopper, reaching heights of nearly 10 feet when fully mature. With its rapid growth rate and erect growth form, it creates an impressive vertical element that few other native plants can match.
Where Does It Grow Naturally?
Sugarcane plumegrass thrives across a broad swath of the United States, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
The Perfect Spot in Your Garden
This grass is incredibly versatile in landscape design. Here’s where it shines:
- Background plantings: Its impressive height makes it perfect for creating a dramatic backdrop
- Specimen plants: Plant it as a focal point where you want to make a bold statement
- Rain gardens: Its facultative wetland status means it loves moisture but can handle drier periods
- Erosion control: The extensive root system helps stabilize slopes and wet areas
- Naturalistic landscapes: Perfect for prairie-style gardens and native plant communities
Growing Conditions: What This Giant Needs
Despite its impressive size, sugarcane plumegrass isn’t terribly fussy about growing conditions:
- Hardiness: Hardy in USDA zones 6-10 (can tolerate temperatures down to -28°F)
- Soil: Adaptable to coarse and medium-textured soils; avoid heavy clay
- pH: Quite tolerant, growing in soils from 3.5 to 7.0 pH
- Moisture: Prefers consistent moisture but has medium drought tolerance once established
- Sun: Full sun is essential – this grass is shade intolerant
- Space: Plant 3,450 to 4,800 plants per acre (or space individual plants 6-8 feet apart)
Planting and Care Tips
Getting sugarcane plumegrass established is relatively straightforward:
- Propagation: Best propagated by sprigs rather than seed, and it’s routinely available commercially
- Planting time: Spring through early summer works best
- Establishment: Shows high seedling vigor and establishes quickly
- Maintenance: Cut back in late winter before new growth begins
- Fertilization: Has medium fertility requirements – a balanced fertilizer in spring helps
The Wildlife Connection
While sugarcane plumegrass may not be a wildlife magnet, it does provide some benefits. Birds use it occasionally for cover and it makes up a small portion (2-5%) of some terrestrial birds’ diets. The tall structure also provides nesting habitat and the seeds persist through fall, offering late-season food sources.
Seasonal Interest and Aesthetic Appeal
This grass offers year-round interest with several standout features:
- Summer: Rapid growth creates an impressive green screen
- Late summer: Produces attractive plumes (though not particularly showy)
- Fall: Becomes quite conspicuous with attractive fall coloring
- Winter: Maintains structure even after going dormant
Should You Plant Sugarcane Plumegrass?
This native grass is an excellent choice if you:
- Need a tall, fast-growing screen or backdrop
- Have a moist to wet area that needs attractive plantings
- Want to support native plant communities
- Love the look of ornamental grasses but want native options
- Need erosion control on slopes or wet areas
However, consider carefully if you have a small garden – this giant needs room to spread and show off its impressive stature. Also, remember that it requires full sun and won’t tolerate heavy shade or extremely dry conditions.
With its dramatic height, graceful movement in the breeze, and solid native credentials, sugarcane plumegrass brings both beauty and ecological value to the right landscape. Give it the space and sun it craves, and you’ll be rewarded with a truly spectacular grass that embodies the wild beauty of America’s native landscapes.
