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Coastal Sandspur

Cenchrus spinifex

51
Strong

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

Profile 82%

Height
Up to about 32 inches
Light
Sun, Part shade
Soil moisture
Dry to moist
Will it fit your yard?

At a glance

Life cycle
Annual
Bloom
June–October

Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 60 Florida counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Florida. Shared habitat, not food. 67 animals.

All wildlife of Florida

From historical sources

What the old botany books say

These facts were missing, so Quercus searched the Biodiversity Heritage Library for Cenchrus spinifex and read up to three independent North American books. Every quote was checked word for word against the scanned page. Open a page to read it.

Bloom: June–October From 1 book, needs a second

Cenchrus incertus. American grasses (1897), Frank Lamson Scribner

“June-October”

Listed in this book as Cenchrus incertus

Help us verify the bloom time

Read the quote above. When do these books say it flowers?

3 matching answers from different visitors mark it verified.

Habitat: Sandy soil along the coast From 1 book, needs a second

Cenchrus incertus. American grasses (1897), Frank Lamson Scribner

“Sandy soil along the coast”

Listed in this book as Cenchrus incertus

Help us verify the habitat

Read the quote above. Do these quotes describe where the plant grows?

3 matching answers from different visitors mark it verified.

Height: 1.5–3 ft From 1 book, needs a second

Cenchrus incertus. American grasses (1897), Frank Lamson Scribner

“4.5 to 9 dm. high”

Listed in this book as Cenchrus incertus

Help us verify the height

Read the quote above. How tall do these books say it grows?

3 matching answers from different visitors mark it verified.

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)
1BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Cenchrus

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist 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

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

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Poaceae
Flower color
White or green

What its natural habitat tells you

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

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Cenchrus incertus; Coastal Sandbur; Coastal Sanspur

Conservation status

Florida rankSNR
Global rankG5
FL statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

Will it fit your yard?

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How to check your spot

Sources