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Southern Cutgrass

Leersia hexandra

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in clay-based Carolina bays, limesink ponds, Florida wet prairies, lakes, pools, canals, marshes, usually in places where periodically or seasonally inundated. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

35
Good

Native to Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 94%

Height
Up to about 5 feet
Light
Partial shade, Full sun
Soil moisture
Moist to wet
Will it fit your yard?

Rare or protected plant. Specialist conservation planting; excluded from routine garden suggestions. Plant caution source

Hidden from default planting suggestions. Wildlife value and native status remain unchanged.

At a glance

Life cycle
Perennial
Bloom
April to November

Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 3 Arkansas counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Ponds, lakes and their shores

Still water and its edges: ponds, lakes, millponds and reservoirs.

Freshwater marshes

Open, herb-covered wetlands with fresh, non-tidal water.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

6CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Leersia

  • Ancyloxypha numitorLeast Skipper
  • Crocidophora serratissimalisAngelic Crocidiphora
  • Lethe anthedonNorthern Pearly Eye
  • Lon hobomokHobomok Skipper
  • Panoquina ocolaOcola Skipper, Long-Winged Skiiper
  • Polites corasPeck's Skipper, Yellow-Patch Skipper
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
0BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
6BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Leersia

  • Aix sponsaWood Duck
  • Anas rubripesAmerican Black Duck
  • Aythya americanaRedhead
  • Porzana carolinaSora
  • Rallus elegansKing Rail
  • Rallus limicolaVirginia Rail
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Poaceae
Flower color
Green or brown
Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Southern Cut Grass

Conservation status

Arkansas rankS1
Global rankG5
AR statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources