Marsh Bristlegrass

Setaria parviflora

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in marshes, ditches, moist disturbed areas, pine rocklands, and dry disturbed areas over limestone. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

Good

Native to Louisiana (estimated). How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: Up to about 4 feet
Light: Partial shade, Full sun
Soil moisture: Dry to moist

Will it fit your yard?

Setaria parviflora — fruit photograph — (c) James K. Douch, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original photograph

At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial

Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves · Bloom

This plant is missing most of its facts, so Quercus is looking them up in old botany books.

Recorded in 61 Louisiana parishes.

Natural habitats

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

1 of 2

Freshwater marshes

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

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Louisiana. Shared habitat, not food. 44 animals.

Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Long-billed Curlew
Numenius americanus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Merlin
Falco columbarius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Northern Bobwhite
Colinus virginianus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Palm Warbler
Dendroica palmarum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Prairie Warbler
Dendroica discolor
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Ring-necked Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Ross's Goose
Chen rossii
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus forficatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Sprague's Pipit
Anthus spragueii
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Birds. 1 shared habitat

Widespread birds also seen here (23)

Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.

All wildlife of Louisiana

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

10CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including LA

Genus host records with ranges including LA · Setaria

Ancyloxypha numitorLeast Skipper
Dargida diffusaWheat Head Armywotm Moth
Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
Lerema acciusClouded Skipper, Corn Leaf tier
Lerodea eufalaEufala Skipper, Gray Skipper, Rice Leafroller
Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Blastobasis graminea

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

0BeesSoutheastern regional records

0Specialist beesPollen specialists

25BirdsRecorded eating Setaria in Louisiana

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Birds whose range includes Louisiana, most records first.