Tripsacum dactyloides (Eastern Gamagrass)
Eastern Gamagrass is a robust, clump-forming, warm season grass with coarse, arching, gray-green leaf blades. Give it plenty of room to grow. If you decide to cut it back, be aware that the blade edges are sharp. Before cutting it back, check for butterfly eggs and pupae since it is a host plant for skipper butterflies. Once established it is drought and occasional flood tolerant.
Eastern Gamagrass prefers heavier soils and wetter conditions than most of our perennial, warm-season grasses. It is often found in open areas on disturbed sites, along roadside ditches, and wetland margins. It is excellent for erosion control. It is also attractive to some pollinating insects and provides good cover for some birds.
Use in swales, rain gardens and moist areas. Can be used as a large accent plant in the landscape.
AT A GLANCE
| Texas native | Yes |
| Water use | High, medium |
| Sun exposure | Full sun to part shade |
| Bloom time | Summer |
| Mature height | 4-8 ft |
| Mature spread | 4-6 ft |
| Attracts |
Birds, butterflies |
| Host plant |
Skipper butterflies |
| Erosion control | Yes |
DISTRIBUTION MAPS
 Present in state |
 Present in county and native |
 Native to North America, but adventive & escaped in state |
 Not present in state |
 Present and rare, native in county |
 Previously present, now extinct |
 Questionable presence (cross-hatched, regardless of color) |