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FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Diarrhena americana is a native perennial cool season grass, reaching 2-3 feet tall in part to full shade.  Not to be confused with an upset stomach, the genus name comes from the Greek words dis meaning twice and arren meaning male in reference to each flower having two stamens (missouribotanicalgarden.org).   It is a tough spreading ornamental grass ideal for erosion control and water mitigation in shady sites. Mid-summer flower spikes lead to seed heads that provide food for large birds such as turkeys and small mammals.  Each seed is tapered to a blunt beak, thus giving rise to the sometimes used common name of American beak grass.

HABITAT & HARDINESS:  Diarrhena americana occurs in central and eastern United States.

Plants are indigenous to river banks and river floodplains, alluvial meadows, stream and creek banks, limestone glades, open moist woods and borders of moist woodlands.

This grass is hardy from USDA Zones 4-8.

PLANT DESCRIPTION:  American Beak grass grows 2-3 feet tall with similar spread.  Blades are shiny, narrow, bright green and erect to arching.  Plants turn golden in fall, fading to tan over the winter.  The drooping flowers in summer give rise to the brown seed heads. The species will form large colonies by way of creeping rhizomes in ideal conditions.

CULTURAL & MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Diarrhena americana prospers in full or part shade and thrives in average to moist soils, but very tolerant of drought and dry soil.  The ideal species for all the tough shady conditions including drought, compacted soils, heavy shade.  Juglans (black walnut) tolerant.  Its tough, wide, arching foliage is typically unappealing to deer.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Useful as slope and streambank stabilization, erosion control, mass planting in shade gardens and naturalized areas, “soft landing” plantings under trees and native plant gardens.  Thrives in moist soils and can handle drought so perfect for rain garden and water mitigation plantings.

COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS:  Try pairing with Phlox divaricatus, Senecio aureus and Viola sororia.

Chasmanthium latifolium may be a good substitute, but taller.

TRIVIA:  The seeds serve as an important food source for large birds, such as wild turkeys and small mammals.