Buttongrass: What You Need to Know About This Non-Native Annual
If you’ve spotted a small, sprawling grass with distinctive finger-like seed heads in disturbed areas around your garden, you might be looking at buttongrass (Dactyloctenium radulans). This annual grass has quite the travel story – originally from Africa and Asia, it’s now made itself at home in several U.S. states. Let’s dive into what makes this plant tick and whether it deserves a spot in your landscape.
Meet Buttongrass: The Basics
Buttongrass goes by the botanical name Dactyloctenium radulans, and you might occasionally see it listed under its old scientific name, Eleusine radulans. As an annual grass, it completes its entire life cycle in one growing season, which means it sprouts, grows, flowers, sets seed, and dies all within a year.
This grass belongs to the Poaceae family, making it a true grass rather than a grass-like sedge or rush. Its most distinctive feature is its seed heads, which branch out like fingers from the main stem – a characteristic that makes it relatively easy to identify once you know what to look for.
Where You’ll Find Buttongrass
Currently, buttongrass has established populations in Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, and South Carolina. As a non-native species, it reproduces on its own in the wild and tends to persist once established. The plant seems to have a particular fondness for warm climates and thrives in USDA hardiness zones 8-11.
Should You Plant Buttongrass?
Here’s where things get interesting – and a bit complicated. While buttongrass isn’t officially labeled as invasive or noxious, it’s not exactly what you’d call garden-worthy either. This grass tends to pop up in disturbed soils, along roadsides, and in other less-than-pristine locations. It’s more of an opportunistic colonizer than an ornamental showstopper.
The Not-So-Great Aspects:
- Limited aesthetic appeal – it’s pretty unremarkable looking
- Tends to grow in weedy, disturbed areas
- Offers minimal benefits to pollinators (it’s wind-pollinated)
- Not typically used in landscape design
Consider Native Alternatives Instead:
If you’re looking for native grasses that offer real ecological benefits, consider exploring indigenous species native to your specific region. Native grasses provide food and habitat for local wildlife, support beneficial insects, and are perfectly adapted to your local climate conditions.
Growing Conditions and Care
Should you find buttongrass has volunteered in your landscape (or if you’re simply curious about its preferences), here’s what it likes:
- Soil: Thrives in disturbed, sandy soils
- Climate: Prefers warm conditions (zones 8-11)
- Maintenance: Essentially none required – it’s quite self-sufficient
- Water: Drought-tolerant once established
The plant typically grows as a low, spreading annual that can handle tough conditions most ornamental plants would struggle with.
Wildlife and Ecosystem Impact
As a wind-pollinated grass, buttongrass doesn’t offer much in the way of nectar or pollen for bees and butterflies. Its seeds might provide some food for certain bird species, but overall, its contribution to local ecosystems is fairly minimal compared to native plant alternatives.
The Bottom Line
Buttongrass is one of those plants that’s more likely to find you than the other way around. While it’s not a garden menace, it’s also not going to win any beauty contests or provide significant ecological benefits. If it shows up in your landscape, you can leave it be without worry, but there’s no compelling reason to actively seek it out for planting.
Instead, consider investing your gardening energy in native grasses and plants that will truly enhance your local ecosystem while providing the aesthetic appeal and wildlife benefits that make gardening so rewarding. Your local native plant society or extension office can point you toward beautiful indigenous alternatives that will thrive in your specific area.
