Plant Min Zone: 5a
Plant Max Zone: 9a
Sunlight: Part Sun, Shade
Water / Rainfall: Average, High
Soil Quality: Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Late Summer, Fall
Flower Color: Green
Berry / Fruit Color: Green, Brown-Beige
Spring Foliage Color: Dark Green
Summer Foliage Color: Dark Green
Fall Foliage Color: Dark Green
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: Yes
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Low, Medium
Wet-Feet Tolerance: High
Humidity Tolerance: High
Wind Tolerance: Medium, High
Poor Soil Tolerance: Clay Soils
Height: 2' - 3'
Width: 2' - 3'
Growth Rate: Medium
Service Life: Long: 5-10 years
Maintenance Need: Medium
Spreading Potential: Medium
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Ornamental Grass to Ground in Early Spring before New Growth: Has Winter Interest.
Plant Grouping Size: Medium Grouping of 5-10, Mass Planting of 10 or more
Best Side of House: East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Resistant to Rabbits
Ornamental Features: Multiple Seasons of Interest, Fine Texture, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: Groundcover, Erosion Control
Possible Pest Problems: None
Plant Limitations: Unwanted Self-seeding
American Beakgrain (Diarrhena obovata) as a native ornamental grass found in rich woodlands in eastern North America. It features bright glossy green foliage about 2 feet tall. It is strongly vertical with little flopping until Seed heads weigh it down late in the season. With it being somewhat of a rarity to have an ornamental grass tolerate shade, American beak grass Along with inland sea oats and Korean Feather Grass help fill that niche. American beak grass prefers rich average to moist soil but will tolerate some dry shade of in rich soil. Seed heads are attractive but not persisting very long: it is an excellent source of food for birds and small mammals. Fall color is a gorgeous golden tint. Seedlings will germinate freely in the area around the mother plants. If this is not desired, simply keep the area mulched. Spreading by rhizomes will also occur after a few years. For the home garden in rich well irrigated areas, this species can be too aggressive. Use as a mass planting in any shaded area allowing extra room. However, in a difficult dry-shade garden, it will thrive, flower, and be relatively tame without much spread. Mulch will also stop self-seeding. It is one of the few plants that can survive under an established Silver Maple! Now if you need a plant to prevent soil erosion along streams, use this re-seeding to your advantage! As it reseeds easily and can expand aggressively within a couple of years, it makes a solid root mat in moist erosion-prone loam soils.