Dallis-grass

Paspalum dilatatum

Found in roadsides, fields, disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

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

Profile 82%

Height: About 3 feet
Light: Dappled sunlight, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Usually moist

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Paspalum dilatatum — fruit photograph — (c) WATANABE Hitoshi 渡辺仁, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

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Eastern Narrowleaf Sedge
Carex amphibola
Sun: Partial shade, Full shade, Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to average. Flowers: Green.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Graceful Sedge
Carex gracillima
Sun: Part to full shade. Soil: Average to moist. Flowers: Green.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Greater Straw Sedge
Carex normalis
Sun: Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Green.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Bloom: May to November
Fruiting season: Spring to summer

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Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 68 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

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

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 Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 78 animals.

Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Icteria virens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Nyctanassa violacea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Dendroica coronata
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

14CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Paspalum

Anicla infectaGreen Cutworm Moth
Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
Hylephila phyleusFiery Skipper
Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
Lerema acciusClouded Skipper, Corn Leaf tier
Lerodea eufalaEufala Skipper, Gray Skipper, Rice Leafroller
Limochores mysticLong Dash
Mocis texanaTexas Mocis
Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
Polites othoSouthern Broken-Dash, Broken-Dash Skipper

Show all 14

Redectis vitreaWhite-Spotted Redactis
Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm

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

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

17BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

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

Agelaius phoeniceusRed-winged Blackbird
Aix sponsaWood Duck
Anthus rubescensAmerican Pipit
Colinus virginianusNorthern Bobwhite
Columbina passerinaCommon Ground Dove
Cyrtonyx montezumaeMontezuma Quail
Dolichonyx oryzivorusBobolink
Gallinula galeataCommon Gallinule
Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
Molothrus aterBrown-headed Cowbird

Show all 17

Plectrophenax nivalisSnow Bunting
Porzana carolinaSora
Quiscalus mexicanusGreat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus quisculaCommon Grackle
Rallus elegansKing Rail
Tympanuchus pallidicinctusLesser Prairie-Chicken
Zenaida macrouraMourning 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
Hardiness: Zones 6a–9b
Flower color: Yellow
Growth rate: Moderate
Growth habit: Grows in clumps
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Spring
Fruit ends: Summer

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

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to November” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Grows in clumps” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 6a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “About 3 feet” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Life cycle · “Perennial” · 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 · “Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Dallis Grass

Conservation status

Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source