FNPS Plant Database

Tripsacum floridanum

dwarf Fakahatchee grass, Florida gamagrass
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

dwarf Fakahatchee grass, Florida gamagrass

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Tripsacum floridanum

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

Grass

Size:

2–3 ft tall by 2–3 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

green

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Evergreen. Clump forming

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Informal borders.

Considerations:

Can get messy after cold spells.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Seed or division of clumps.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Neutral to alkaline

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for Byssus Skipper (Problema byssus).

Seeds are eaten by birds. Provides cover for lizzards and other small animals.

Native Habitats:

Pine rockland. Also cultivated. Dry sites

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Grows well well north of its native range. Documented in very southern counties with an outlier in Martin County -- that outlier is also unique in that it was collected near a cypress dome. Closely related to corn, this species has been crossed with maize to produce a corn that is resistant to Helminthosporium turcicum, the fungus that causes northern leaf blight (Wikipedia). Listed as Threatened in Florida.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+). Florida gamagrass, Dwarf Fakahatchee grass [in] Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Tripflor ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, FL.


Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Wikipedia. Tripsacum floridanum. (2012-2024). ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripsacum_floridanum ). Accessed 2026.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

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