Chinese Fountaingrass

Cenchrus polystachios

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in disturbed areas, roadsides, floodplains, old fields. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

-55

Severe harm

Not native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 59%

Height: 1 foot–3 feet 11 inches
Light: Partial shade, Full shade, Full sun
Soil moisture: Dry to wet

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Do not plant. Listed invasive in Florida.

At a glance

Bloom: September to November

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Not yet recorded · Spread · Life cycle · Leaves

Recorded in 5 Florida counties.

Habitats

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground; floodplain and bottomland forests.

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there. All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

11CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Cenchrus

Anicla infectaGreen Cutworm Moth
Dargida diffusaWheat Head Armywotm Moth
Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
Hylephila phyleusFiery Skipper
Lerema acciusClouded Skipper, Corn Leaf tier
Lerodea eufalaEufala Skipper, Gray Skipper, Rice Leafroller
Mocis latipesSmall Mocis, Striped Grass Looper
Mythimna sequaxWheat Armyworm
Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
Nola cereellaSorghum Cutworm, Sorghum Webworm Moth, Sorgham Webworm Moth

Show all 11

Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

7BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

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

Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
Passerina cirisPainted Bunting
Pheucticus ludovicianusRose-breasted Grosbeak
Porzana carolinaSora
Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
Vireo olivaceusRed-eyed Vireo
Zenaida asiaticaWhite-winged Dove

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

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Poaceae

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “September to November” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Height · “1 foot–3 feet 11 inches” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Light · “Partial shade; Full shade; Full sun (documented habitat)” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Soil · “Dry; Moist; Wet (documented habitat)” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia

Also known as

Cenchrus polystachios; Pennisetum alopecuroides

Conservation status

Florida rank	SNA
Global rank	G5
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

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