Hairy Signalgrass: What You Need to Know About This Non-Native Annual Grass
If you’ve spotted a somewhat scruffy-looking grass with distinctly hairy leaves popping up in your garden or local area, you might be looking at hairy signalgrass (Urochloa villosa). While this annual grass isn’t exactly a garden showstopper, understanding what it is and where it comes from can help you make informed decisions about your landscape.
What is Hairy Signalgrass?
Hairy signalgrass is a non-native annual grass that originally hails from tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. It’s also known by its scientific name Urochloa villosa, and you might occasionally see it listed under its synonym Brachiaria distichophylla. True to its common name, this grass is notably hairy—a characteristic that makes it fairly easy to identify once you know what to look for.
As a graminoid (that’s botanist-speak for grass-like plants), hairy signalgrass belongs to the large family of grasses, sedges, and rushes that form the backbone of many ecosystems.
Where Does It Grow?
In the United States, hairy signalgrass has established itself as an introduced species that reproduces on its own in the wild. Currently, it’s been documented growing in Maryland, though its range may be expanding as climate conditions allow.
Garden and Landscape Considerations
Let’s be honest—hairy signalgrass isn’t winning any beauty contests. While it’s not considered particularly invasive or harmful, it doesn’t offer much in terms of ornamental value either. You’re more likely to encounter it in:
- Disturbed soil areas
- Roadsides and vacant lots
- Areas with poor soil conditions
- Naturalized or semi-wild spaces
Since this is an annual grass, it completes its entire life cycle in one growing season, dying back each winter and regrowing from seed the following spring.
Growing Conditions and Hardiness
Hairy signalgrass is quite the survivor, adapting to various soil types and conditions. Based on its current distribution and tropical origins, it likely thrives in USDA hardiness zones 7-10. It seems to prefer disturbed soils and can handle less-than-ideal growing conditions that might challenge other plants.
Wildlife and Pollinator Value
As a wind-pollinated grass, hairy signalgrass doesn’t offer much to our buzzing pollinator friends. Its wildlife benefits are minimal compared to native grass alternatives that have co-evolved with local ecosystems over thousands of years.
Should You Plant It?
While hairy signalgrass isn’t classified as invasive or noxious (at least not yet), there’s really no compelling reason to intentionally introduce it to your garden. Instead, consider these native grass alternatives that will provide much greater ecological value:
- Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
- Buffalo grass (Poaceae dactyloides)
- Purple top tridens (Tridens flavus)
- Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
The Bottom Line
Hairy signalgrass is one of those plants that’s neither hero nor villain—it’s simply here. If it shows up in your garden naturally, it won’t cause major problems, but it won’t contribute much either. For gardeners interested in supporting local ecosystems and creating beautiful, functional landscapes, focusing on native grass species will give you much better bang for your buck.
Remember, every plant choice is an opportunity to support or ignore the intricate web of relationships that make healthy ecosystems possible. While hairy signalgrass might be perfectly fine in its native African and Asian homes, our North American wildlife and pollinators will thank you for choosing plants they recognize and can actually use.
