Rhodesgrass

Chloris gayana

Found in pastures (where planted for forage), disturbed areas, roadsides; eastwards in waste areas near wool-combing mills, other disturbed areas (perhaps only a waif). FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

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

Profile 76%

Height: About 3 feet
Light: 4 or more hours of direct sun
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to average

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Splitbeard Bluestem
Andropogon ternarius
Sun: Full to part sun. Soil: Dry to somewhat dry. Flowers: Green.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Bitter Panicgrass
Panicum amarum
Sun: Full sun. Soil: Dry to moist. Flowers: Pink.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Broadleaf Signal-grass
Urochloa platyphylla
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Moist to wet. Flowers: Green.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

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At a glance

Bloom: Late summer
Fruiting season: Fall

Not yet recorded · Spread · Life cycle · Leaves

Recorded in 9 Florida counties.

Habitats

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.

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

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

2CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Chloris

Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth

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

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

4BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

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

Columbina passerinaCommon Ground Dove
Peucaea aestivalisBachman's Sparrow
Spizella passerinaChipping Sparrow
Spizella pusillaField Sparrow

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
Flower color: White
Growth rate: Moderate
Growth habit: Several stems
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Fall
Fruit ends: Fall

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

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Late summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Flower color · “White” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Several stems” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Height · “About 3 feet” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary

Conservation status

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

Conservation source Global and federal source