Educational Story
Wiregrass, Aristida stricta, is an extremely important understory groundcover in flatwoods and sandhill ecosystems throughout the southeastern coastal plain. It is also sometimes referred to as Pineland threeawn. This narrow leafed wiry grass grows in clumps and can reach heights of up to 2 feet. Flowering stalks may be up to 3 feet, Wiregrass serves as an important food source for the threatened gopher tortoise and plays a vital role in carrying small natural fires across the landscape. Fire is a natural process that maintains these upland systems, and wiregrass depends on fire to reduce the area covered by shrubs and trees, and to open up space required for the grasses to persist. Wiregrass need summer fires to stimulate flower and seed production. Four different species of Aristida, occur in the Arboretum, but Aristida stricta, is the dominant wiregrass species. as UCF and throughout its range.
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Gardening Facts
| Scientific Name: | Aristida stricta |
| Common Name: | Wiregrass; Pineland threeawn |
| Description of facts and concepts: | Fast growing; regenerates quickly after fires; seeds are an important food source for some wildlife; helps maintain fuel loads for frequent lower-intensity ground fires. |
| Seed or division information: | Seeds are collected after autumn fires |
| Date of flower’s bloom (Month and week): | March-October |
| Ecoregion: | Fast-draining sands, some flooding is okay |
| Color of Flower: | Brown |
| Height: | 1-4 feet |
| Spread: | 1-3 feet |
| Family: | Poaceae (Grass Family) |
| Soil Type: Base to Acidic | Acidic (pH<6.8) |
| Soil: Dry to Wet | Dry, moist |
| Light: Sun to Shade | Sun, part shade |
| Zone | 8B-10A |