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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Spartina anglica is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.3 m (4ft 3in). The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

None known

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Soil stabilization

The plants have an extensive root system and can be used for soil stabilization along rivers and marshes[200].

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in fresh or salt water marshes and in ordinary garden soil[162]. Prefers a deep rich moist soil in sun or light shade[200]. Although said to be native to Britain, this species is not in the British Flora[17], though it is in Flora Europaea[50].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow in a greenhouse in spring and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Plant out in the summer if sufficient growth has been made, otherwise overwinter them in a cold frame and plant them out in the following spring. Division in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Common cordgrass. English: English cordgrass. Australia: rice grass. Finland: englanninmarskiheinä. Germany: Englisches Schlickgras. Netherlands: engels slijkgras.

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, China, Australia (South Australia, Tasmania), Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada, USA.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Introduced in some areas for coastal erosion control Spartina anglica (Common Cord-grass) has become an invasive species throughout the British Isles, Asia (China), Australia (South Australia, Tasmania), Europe (Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands) New Zealand and North America (Canada, USA), causing extensive damage to natural saltmarsh ecosystems in all areas. Invasiveness: Abundant in its native range, Fast growing, Highly mobile locally, Invasive in its native range, Long lived, Pioneering in disturbed areas, Proved invasive outside its native range, Reproduces asexually, Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc. It is highly unlikely that further intentional introductions will be undertaken; due to the knowledge of the invasiveness of S. anglica and that it is now a notified weed in many countries [1d].

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Spartina pectinata	Prairie Cord Grass	Perennial	1.8	4-8		LMH	SN	MWe	0	0	1
Spartina x townsendii	Townsend's Cord Grass	Perennial	1.2	0-0		LMH	SN	MWe	0	0	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Spartina anglica - C.Hubb.