- **Type**: Evergreen perennial grass

- **Height**: 2 to 7 feet (0.6 to 2.1 meters), depending on conditions

- **Width**: Forms dense colonies, spreading 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters) or more via rhizomes

- **Growth Habit**: Upright, clumping, with a fountain-like spray of leaves; aggressive spreader

- **Foliage**:

- Long, flat, blade-like leaves, 12 to 20 inches long (30 to 50 cm), 0.25 to 0.5 inches wide (6 to 13 mm)

- Dark green, smooth to slightly rough margins, tapering to a point

- Evergreen in mild climates; may brown in winter but persists

- **Flowers**:

- Small, inconspicuous, spikelets on 4 to 12-inch (10 to 30 cm) panicles

- Greenish to straw-colored, blooming late summer to fall (August to October)

- No fragrance, wind-pollinated, attracts minimal wildlife directly

- **Fruit**:

- Tiny, dry grains (caryopses), about 0.1 inches (2-3 mm), rarely significant in cultivation

- **Light**: Full sun (6+ hours daily); tolerates light shade but thrives in open areas

- **Soil**:

- Moist to wet, tolerates submersion; prefers saline or brackish marsh soils

- Slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0 to 7.0); highly salt-tolerant

- **Watering**: High; thrives in saturated or flooded conditions (up to 18 inches deep), drought-intolerant

- **Hardiness**: USDA Zones 4 to 10 (-30°F or -34°C to 30°F or -1°C); hardy but prefers coastal warmth

- **Wildlife**: Provides habitat for birds, fish, and crustaceans; seeds eaten by waterfowl; not deer-resistant

- **Care**:

- Plant 18 to 36 inches apart in wet areas; no pruning needed, but remove dead growth in spring

- Fertilize sparingly with a balanced mix (e.g., 10-10-10) in spring if growth is slow

- Control spread if invasive tendencies are a concern (rhizome barriers or regular cutting)

- **Pests/Diseases**:

- Generally pest-free; may see sugarcane borer or nutria damage in wild settings

- Susceptible to fungal rot in poorly aerated, stagnant water

- **Uses**: Erosion control, wetland restoration, coastal landscaping; not ideal for small gardens due to invasiveness

- **Growth Rate**: Fast; spreads rapidly via rhizomes, forming dense stands in one season

Smooth Cordgrass is a coastal champ, native to North America’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts, where it dominates salt marshes. Its tough, wiry leaves and deep rhizomes make it a powerhouse for stabilizing soil and filtering water, but it can outcompete native plants if unchecked—think twice before adding it to a home garden unless you’ve got a marsh to tame! It’s a key player in ecosystems, offering cover for wildlife and food for geese, but it’s all about that wet, salty life.