North America Non-native Plant

Pasto Micael

Botanical name: Axonopus micay

USDA symbol: AXMI

Habit: grass

Native status: Not native but doesn't reproduce and persist in the wild

Pasto Micael: The Mysterious Grass That’s Hard to Pin Down Ever stumble across a plant name that leaves you scratching your head? Meet pasto micael (Axonopus micay), a grass species that’s about as elusive as information gets in the plant world. Also known as pasto micay, this member of the ...

Pasto Micael: The Mysterious Grass That’s Hard to Pin Down

Ever stumble across a plant name that leaves you scratching your head? Meet pasto micael (Axonopus micay), a grass species that’s about as elusive as information gets in the plant world. Also known as pasto micay, this member of the grass family has managed to keep a pretty low profile in gardening circles.

What We Know (And What We Don’t)

Here’s the thing about pasto micael – it’s one of those plants that seems to exist in the botanical equivalent of witness protection. While it belongs to the Axonopus genus, a group of tropical and subtropical grasses, specific details about this particular species are surprisingly scarce.

The name pasto gives us a clue that this is likely a forage grass (pasto means pasture or grass in Spanish), suggesting it might hail from Latin American regions where Spanish is spoken. However, without concrete information about its native range, we’re left making educated guesses.

Should You Plant Pasto Micael?

This is where things get tricky. When a plant species has so little available information, it raises some red flags for home gardeners:

  • Unknown growth habits make it unpredictable in garden settings
  • Unclear native status means we can’t be sure about ecological impact
  • Limited growing information makes successful cultivation challenging
  • Uncertain availability from reputable nurseries

Better Alternatives to Consider

Instead of taking a gamble on pasto micael, why not consider some well-documented native grasses that can provide similar benefits? Depending on your location, you might explore:

  • Native bunch grasses appropriate for your region
  • Local prairie grasses with known wildlife benefits
  • Established ornamental grasses with predictable growth patterns

The Bottom Line

While pasto micael might sound intriguing, the lack of reliable information makes it a risky choice for most gardeners. When it comes to adding grasses to your landscape, you’re usually better off choosing species with well-documented growing requirements, known environmental impacts, and proven garden performance.

If you’re drawn to experimenting with unusual grasses, consider reaching out to botanical gardens or agricultural extension services in your area – they might have insights about lesser-known species that would work better in your specific climate and soil conditions.

Remember, the best plants for your garden are often the ones that come with clear growing instructions and a solid reputation among fellow gardeners!

Pasto Micael

Classification

Group

Monocot

Kingdom

Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division

Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Subdivision
Class

Liliopsida - Monocotyledons

Subclass

Commelinidae

Order

Cyperales

Family

Poaceae Barnhart - Grass family

Genus

Axonopus P. Beauv. - carpetgrass

Species

Axonopus micay Garcia-Barr. - pasto micael

Plant data source: USDA, NRCS 2025. The PLANTS Database. https://plants.usda.gov,. 2/25/2025. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA