Ammophila breviligulata
Beach Grass
a perennial member of the Ammophila genus in the family Gramineae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The extensive root system of this plant makes it useful for planting on sand dunes etc for the control of soil erosion[1].
Environment
- Range
- North-eastern N. America - Newfoundland to North Carolina and on the shores of the Great Lakes.
- Habitat
- Coastal sand dunes[1].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a sunny position in a light well-drained soil. Very tolerant of severe maritime exposure. The plant has a deep, strong and extensively creeping rhizome, it can become invasive when growing in suitable conditions[2].
References
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Hitchcock. A. S. Manual of the Grasses of the United States Dover Publications. New York. 1971-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22717-0