Grass Plant id - cogangrass, Imperata cylindrica

I know it grows up to 4ft tall maybe more

Smooth face, furrowed on the backside

Clumping but I have seen it fill an entire field so dense that nothing else exists with the exception of established trees so I'm assuming it is a spreading variety

I have seen it grow in seemingly very fertile soil as well as the polar opposite I.E my soil/ sand

It seems to take mowing with no issues.

It seems to be drought tolerant but I've also noticed it growing in wet lowlands

Thanks

I have an idea... but I'd need to see what the roots/rhizomes look like.  Also, are there any seedheads laying about in the duff there?  You took a lot of great pictures showing the setting and structure.  But grasses can be tough to ID when they aren't flowering.  The rhizomes could help.

Oh, and one more possible hint - do you know any local farmers with grazing animals?  They likely know what it is...

Great thread!  I love plant ID threads.  I learn so much from them.

Kim Goodwin wrote:I have an idea... but I'd need to see what the roots/rhizomes look like.  Also, are there any seedheads laying about in the duff there?  You took a lot of great pictures showing the setting and structure.  But grasses can be tough to ID when they aren't flowering.  The rhizomes could help.

Oh, and one more possible hint - do you know any local farmers with grazing animals?  They likely know what it is...

Great thread!  I love plant ID threads.  I learn so much from them.

At this point I don't want to take it apart because I'm hoping to keep it at the living plant but I don't know if these pictures would help or not I did obviously take a shovel full of it this morning and I plan on doing something with it I don't know what hopefully these pictures will help

Johnson Grass?

The plant has been identified by a Lowes garden associate, Im not sure their information is correct, Im still researching it but who knows?

Tyler Ludens wrote:Johnson Grass?

Might be, looks closer than what the lowes guy told me.............ok chances are he has no clue and didnt want to admit it so Ill admit he told me pampas grass.......

I dont think so, I am watching plants now, Ive been watching this one for some time now and dont remember ever seeing a flower or seeds.

I dont think its pampas grass cause googliator says ...... Leaf edges of pampas grass are very sharp...........these are not sharp

Also says blooms in late summer, this is late summer and no blumes, onto Johnson grass

Tyler Ludens wrote:Johnson Grass?

Google says johnson grass.......prominent white midrib down the leaf blade

This does not have that. Maybe a more mature plant would have this?

EDIT: Its looking like guinea grass https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag372#FIGURE%204

Jason, the best way to ID plants, especially grass is with the seed head.  If you can find any get a closeup shot.

Look at Sand Dropseed, sporobolus cryptandrus.  The grains as in seed heads were used by Indians as food.

Anne Miller wrote:Jason, the best way to ID plants, especially grass is with the seed head.  If you can find any get a closeup shot.

Look at Sand Dropseed, sporobolus cryptandrus.  The grains as in seed heads were used by Indians as food.

I will have to watch out for these. Thanks

I dont know if there is a way to conclusively identify this plant.

I stopped again this a.m and was pleased to find a seed head, I also uprooted a specimen.

What I believe I have learned is that the plants characteristics will prob. change throughout different stages of its lifespan.

I did find a white rib on the largest of plants but I still wouldn't call it prominent so I was still going with guinea, I also pulled up 2 plants, both young, one root structure resembled Johnston with large culm the other resembled the other 2 possible varieties that were in the link I posted.

Lastly the seed doesn't resemble necessarily any of the photos within same link but I attribute that to the season in which its flowering.

Either way looking online it would seem general consensus is this is not a plant that anyone wants in their garden.

Im thinking there may not be a lower maintenance/ better suited plant for the very large sloped area of my property.

A- its free, I can dig up all I want and transplant
B- I have to verify it is the same plant growing within a couple miles of my property in the full sun. If it is than its extremely drought tolerant and puts up with florida 🌞
C- I can see that its being mowed and kept at bay on this plant city site and the dunnellon site so I know I can control it
D- did I mention its free. I am on a tight budget, ive set up a financial savings goal which will hopefully allow me to build this second home/ move out there relatively debt free so free is good for me.

Thanks to everyone that helped me identifyish this plant

Definitely not Johnson with that seedhead.  

Tyler Ludens wrote:Definitely not Johnson with that seedhead.  

Possibly vaseygrass?

I dont think so though as it says in the publication I linked that vaseygrass midrib that is indented.

This grass does not have this characteristic on its blade

Jason, was that area of your land a previous hay meadow?

To me, that is what it looks like.  I would look at what is usually grown in your state for hay.

Here are some suggestions for grass that might be grown for hay:

Cereal rye, big bluestem, timothy.

Anne Miller wrote:Jason, was that area of your land a previous hay meadow?

To me, that is what it looks like.  I would look at what is usually grown in your state for hay.

Here are some suggestions for grass that might be grown for hay:

Cereal rye, big bluestem, timothy.

Thank you. It has been identified as cogan grass by local extension service. I briefly googled it before making this post and sure enough looks like a 🏆

Thanks everyone. This was fun

Edit: Ive read enough to understand that Cogan grass is prob not gonna be something Im gonna mess with, free or not I do not want to add problems to the environment that surrounds me.

Im gonna keep looking