Barbed Bristlegrass: What Every Gardener Should Know About This Non-Native Grass
If you’ve spotted a small, bristly grass growing in disturbed areas of your garden or landscape, you might be looking at barbed bristlegrass (Setaria verticilliformis). This annual grass has quietly established itself across several U.S. states, and while it’s not native to North America, understanding its characteristics can help you make informed decisions about your garden management.
Getting to Know Barbed Bristlegrass
Barbed bristlegrass belongs to the large family of grasses and grass-like plants, making it a monocot with the characteristic parallel leaf veins you’d expect. As an annual plant, it completes its entire life cycle in a single growing season, sprouting from seed in spring, growing through summer, and setting seed before winter arrives.
This grass goes by several scientific names in botanical literature, including historical synonyms like Panicum verticillatum var. ambiguum and Setaria decipiens, which can make identification a bit tricky when consulting different field guides.
Where You’ll Find It Growing
Originally from Mediterranean regions, barbed bristlegrass has established populations in Alabama, District of Columbia, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. It’s considered a non-native species that reproduces on its own in the wild and tends to persist once established.
Growing Habits and Characteristics
One of the most notable features of barbed bristlegrass is its adaptability to different moisture conditions. Across various regions of the United States, it’s classified as facultative, meaning it can thrive in both wetland and upland conditions. This flexibility allows it to pop up in a wide range of garden and landscape situations.
The grass tends to favor disturbed soils and open areas, which is why you’re more likely to encounter it along pathways, in garden beds that have been recently worked, or in areas where other vegetation has been cleared.
Should You Plant Barbed Bristlegrass?
While barbed bristlegrass isn’t typically considered a garden ornamental, it’s worth understanding why you might or might not want it in your landscape:
- Limited aesthetic appeal compared to native ornamental grasses
- Minimal benefits for pollinators, as it’s wind-pollinated
- Can establish readily in disturbed areas
- May compete with more desirable native plants
Better Native Alternatives
If you’re looking to add grasses to your landscape, consider these native options that provide greater ecological benefits:
- Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – beautiful fall color and wildlife value
- Buffalo grass (Poaceae species native to your region) – drought-tolerant and regionally appropriate
- Native sedges (Carex species) – excellent for wildlife habitat and varied growing conditions
Managing Barbed Bristlegrass in Your Garden
If you discover barbed bristlegrass in your garden and prefer to remove it, the annual nature of this plant works in your favor. Since it relies on seed to reproduce each year, preventing seed formation can help reduce future populations. Hand-pulling is effective for small areas, especially when the soil is moist.
For larger areas, mowing or cutting before the plants set seed can help control spread. Focus on creating healthy, dense plantings of desirable species that can outcompete this grass for space and resources.
The Bottom Line
Barbed bristlegrass represents one of many non-native plants that have found their way into North American landscapes. While it’s not necessarily harmful, it doesn’t offer the ecological benefits that native grasses provide. If you’re planning new plantings, choosing native alternatives will better support local wildlife while creating beautiful, regionally appropriate landscapes.
Remember, the best defense against unwanted plants is often a good offense – healthy, well-planned landscapes with appropriate native plants are naturally more resistant to establishment by less desirable species.
