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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

—
Not native

Not native to West 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
See native alternatives

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • Fowl Bluegrass
    Poa palustris

    Sun: Full sun, Part shade, Shade. Soil: Moist to wet. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

  • 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

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At a glance

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

Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

County records are not available.

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

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

9CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Paspalum

  • Anicla infectaGreen Cutworm Moth
  • Hylephila phyleusFiery Skipper
  • Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
  • Limochores mysticLong Dash
  • Mocis texanaTexas Mocis
  • Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
  • Redectis vitreaWhite-Spotted Redactis
  • 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
Also known as

Dallis Grass

Conservation status

West Virginia rankSNA
Global rankGNR
WV statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources