Intro: Erect, tufted perennial of sandhills, dry woodlands and forests (such as ridgetop pine/heath communities in the Mountains and maritime forest in the Coastal Plain) and road banks.

Stems: Stems often with basal offshoots, branched above; upper stem sparsely glandular-hairy to smooth.

Leaves: Leaves mostly basal with a few alternate leaves above; linear-lance-shaped; 4-12 in. long (reduced upward); covered with silvery-silky, closely pressed hairs.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) on ascending upper branches, on stalks that are silky-hairy and sometimes glandular; heads 1/2-1 in. wide, consisting of 4-13 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of 30-50 yellow tubular florets. Several unequal series of hairy bracts surround the bell-shaped base of each head.

Fruits:

Comments: Five varieties are often recognized in this highly variable species. Photo here is identified as P. graminifolia var. latifolia.

Height: 1-2 ft.

plant sale text: Narrowleaf Silkgrass is beautiful and easy to grow when given sun and good drainage. Not often offered for sale. During the spring and summer, its attractive foliage looks great even in high humidity or drought. The bright yellow flowers are borne on upright stems above its silvery grass like foliage. Silkgrass will tolerate moderate shade but flowers best in full sun. This plant is attractive to butterflies. It colonizes moderately and makes an effective, unusual groundcover for sunny areas.

bloom table text:

description: Erect, tufted perennial of sandhills, dry woodlands and forests (such as ridgetop pine/heath communities in the Mountains and maritime forest in the Coastal Plain) and road banks.

stems: Stems often with basal offshoots, branched above; upper stem sparsely glandular-hairy to smooth.

leaves: Leaves mostly basal with a few alternate leaves above; linear-lance-shaped; 4-12 in. long (reduced upward); covered with silvery-silky, closely pressed hairs.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) on ascending upper branches, on stalks that are silky-hairy and sometimes glandular; heads 1/2-1 in. wide, consisting of 4-13 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of 30-50 yellow tubular florets. Several unequal series of hairy bracts surround the bell-shaped base of each head.

fruits:

comments: Five varieties are often recognized in this highly variable species. Photo here is identified as P. graminifolia var. latifolia.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: southeastern United States