Japanese Stilt-grass

Microstegium vimineum

Found in disturbed areas, colonizing moist, rich soil, especially in floodplains, though sometimes patchily in even dry or moderately dry uplands. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

-85

Severe harm

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

Profile 71%

Light: Dappled sunlight, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

Microstegium vimineum — foliage photograph — no rights reserved · CC0 · Original photograph

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Mississippi.

At a glance

Life cycle: Annual
Bloom: September to November

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Not yet recorded · Height · Spread · Leaves

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

Recorded in 28 Mississippi 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

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

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

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Mississippi. Shared habitat, not food. 149 animals.

Yellow-throated Warbler
Dendroica dominica
Birds. 4 shared habitats
Blue-headed Vireo
Vireo solitarius
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Boat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus major
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Birds. 3 shared habitats
White Ibis
Eudocimus albus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Least Flycatcher
Empidonax minimus
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius acadicus
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Northern Waterthrush
Seiurus noveboracensis
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Veery
Catharus fuscescens
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Blue-winged Teal
Anas discors
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cerulean Warbler
Dendroica cerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Ground-dove
Columbina passerina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Lapland Longspur
Calcarius lapponicus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Merlin
Falco columbarius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Mottled Duck
Anas fulvigula
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Mississippi

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

—CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including MS

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

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

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Poaceae
Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
Flower color: Yellow

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

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “September to November” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Annual” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Dappled sunlight (shade through upper canopy all day); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to neutral” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Japanese Stilt grass; Japanese Stiltgrass; Nepalese Browntop

Conservation status

Mississippi rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR [G5]
MS status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

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