Plant Guide

Ammophila breviligulata Fern.
American beachgrass
AMBR

Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Graminoid
U.S. Nativity	Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	UPL, FACU-

Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring, Summer, Fall
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Slow
Bloat	None
C:N Ratio	High
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Fire Resistant	Yes
Flower Color	Yellow
Flower Conspicuous	No
Foliage Color	Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Dense
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Coarse
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Rhizomatous
Growth Rate	Rapid
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	2.5
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	Yes
Lifespan	Moderate
Low Growing Grass	Yes
Nitrogen Fixation
Resprout Ability	No
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Toxicity	None

Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	No
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	Low
CaCO3 Tolerance	High
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Fertility Requirement	High
Fire Tolerance	Medium
Frost Free Days, Minimum	130
Hedge Tolerance	None
Moisture Use	Medium
pH, Minimum	5.8
pH, Maximum	7.8
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum	10890
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum	43560
Precipitation, Minimum	35
Precipitation, Maximum	60
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	20
Salinity Tolerance	High
Shade Tolerance	Intolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-28

Reproduction
Bloom Period	Spring
Commercial Availability	Routinely Available
Fruit/Seed Abundance	None
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Summer
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No
Propagated by Bare Root	Yes
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	No
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	No
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	Yes
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	0
Seed Spread Rate	None
Seedling Vigor
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	Moderate

Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Fuelwood Product	None
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	Yes
Palatable Browse Animal	Medium
Palatable Graze Animal	Medium
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential	Low
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

Ammophila breviligulata Fern.
American beachgrass
AMBR
Cultivar: Cape

Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Graminoid
U.S. Nativity	Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	UPL, FACU-

Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring, Summer, Fall
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Slow
Bloat	None
C:N Ratio	High
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Fire Resistant	Yes
Flower Color	Yellow
Flower Conspicuous	No
Foliage Color	Dark Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Dense
Foliage Porosity Winter	Moderate
Foliage Texture	Coarse
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Rhizomatous
Growth Rate	Rapid
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	2.5
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	No
Lifespan	Moderate
Low Growing Grass	Yes
Nitrogen Fixation
Resprout Ability	No
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Toxicity	None

Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	No
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	Low
CaCO3 Tolerance	Medium
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Fertility Requirement	High
Fire Tolerance	Medium
Frost Free Days, Minimum	130
Hedge Tolerance	None
Moisture Use	Medium
pH, Minimum	5.5
pH, Maximum	7.9
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum	10890
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum	43560
Precipitation, Minimum	35
Precipitation, Maximum	60
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	20
Salinity Tolerance	Medium
Shade Tolerance	Intolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-28

Reproduction
Bloom Period	Spring
Commercial Availability	Routinely Available
Fruit/Seed Abundance	None
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Summer
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No
Propagated by Bare Root	Yes
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	No
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	No
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	Yes
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	0
Seed Spread Rate	None
Seedling Vigor
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	Rapid

Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Fuelwood Product	None
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	Yes
Palatable Browse Animal	Medium
Palatable Graze Animal	Medium
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential	Low
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

Ammophila breviligulata Fern.
American beachgrass
AMBR
Cultivar: Hatteras

Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Graminoid
U.S. Nativity	Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	UPL, FACU-

Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring and Summer
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Slow
Bloat	None
C:N Ratio	High
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Fire Resistant	Yes
Flower Color	Yellow
Flower Conspicuous	No
Foliage Color	Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Dense
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Coarse
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Rhizomatous
Growth Rate	Rapid
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	3
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	No
Lifespan	Moderate
Low Growing Grass	Yes
Nitrogen Fixation
Resprout Ability	No
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Toxicity	None

Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	No
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	Low
CaCO3 Tolerance	High
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Fertility Requirement	Medium
Fire Tolerance	Medium
Frost Free Days, Minimum	185
Hedge Tolerance
Moisture Use	Medium
pH, Minimum	5.8
pH, Maximum	7.8
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum	10890
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum	43000
Precipitation, Minimum	35
Precipitation, Maximum	60
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	20
Salinity Tolerance	High
Shade Tolerance	Intolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	2

Reproduction
Bloom Period	Spring
Commercial Availability	Routinely Available
Fruit/Seed Abundance	Low
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Summer
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No
Propagated by Bare Root	No
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	No
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	No
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	Yes
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound
Seed Spread Rate	None
Seedling Vigor	Low
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	Rapid

Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Fuelwood Product	None
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	Yes
Palatable Browse Animal	Medium
Palatable Graze Animal	Medium
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential	Low
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

Kingdom Plantae -- Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants

Class Liliopsida -- Monocotyledons

Subclass Commelinidae

Order Cyperales

Family Poaceae -- Grass family

Genus Ammophila Host -- beachgrass P

Species Ammophila breviligulata Fern. -- American beachgrass P

Alternate Names

coastal beachgrass, beach grass, marram grass

Uses

Dune Stabilization: Major use is to stabilize moving sand along the Atlantic seacoast and Great Lakes region. It is the best species for the initial stabilization of frontal dunes.

Revegetation: Useful as an erosion control plant on non‑dune areas where soils are very sandy or inherently droughty and the site conditions make establishment of seeded species very difficult. In this application, the beachgrass may only survive a few years, but it plays a valuable role in jump-starting plant succession. Also used on soils high in salinity, such as industrial waste needing vegetative cover.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state status and wetland indicator values.

Description

General: Grass Family (Poaceae). American beachgrass, is a leafy, spreading, rhizomatous, native, bunch grass with many stems per clump. It may reach a height of two to three feet. The seed head is a spike‑like panicle, about ten inches long, and appears in late July or August. Leaves are long and narrow, and may become rolled or folded as it matures.

One outstanding growth characteristic is the strong underground stems (rhizomes) that spread beneath the sand and give rise to many new plants. Its vigorous growth enables the plant to withstand heavy deposits of sand and grow up through it.

Distribution

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Establishment

Adaptation: It is native to the mid‑Atlantic coastal region from Maine to North Carolina, and the Great Lakes region. It will grow on inland sites, high in sand and/or saline content, provided applications of fertilizers containing nitrogen are made. Requires a sunny position in a light, well-drained soil and is very tolerant of severe maritime exposure. The plant has a deep, strong and extensively creeping rhizome, and can become invasive when growing in suitable conditions. This ability to colonize makes this grass very valuable for dune stabilization.

Planting: The best time to plant beach grass is from October 1 to March 30 in the Mid-Atlantic region, but may be extended to April 30 in New England in most seasons. If properly planted, good survival can be expected at any time during this period, except when soil is frozen. Summer plantings are not satisfactory.

American beachgrass can be planted either by hand or by mechanical equipment designed for this work. The stems of plants (culms) are used for planting stock. Two to three culms are planted per hole. Space plants 18" by 18" unless wind erosion is severe, then spacing is reduced to 12” by 12”. Stagger the plantings in alternate rows to provide maximum erosion control. On very stable areas where wind is not a factor, a spacing of 24" by 24" is suitable. An 18” by 18" spacing requires 58,500 culms per acre, or 1,350 culms per 1,000 square feet.

Beachgrass culms must be planted at least 8" deep. This prevents plants from drying out, as well as being blown out by the wind. A tiling or ditching spade is an excellent tool for opening the planting hole. The culms and roots must be kept moist before and during planting. Success of planting will increase if the stock is dormant or has made very little growth.

Fertilizer properly applied is the key to good vigorous growth, as coastal sands are rather infertile. Apply fertilizer 30 days after planting, but no earlier than April 1 in the Mid-Atlantic and May 1 in New England. Inorganic, granular fertilizers high in nitrogen are best, if available (N-P-K analysis of 30-10-0, 16-8-8 or 10-10-10). Split the fertilizer applications: One in spring, another early summer, and a third in late summer, only in the establishment year. Apply no more than 1 lb. of N/1000 sq. ft .in a single application.

Management

Once the stand is well established, the rate of fertilizer applied can be reduced by half, or applied only when the stand appears to be weakening, based on local soil test results. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic that bends or breaks the culms will seriously damage the plants and may kill them if traffic is intensive.

Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials

[Vegetative culms] of ‘Cape’ and ‘Hatteras’ are commercially available, though seed is not available.

‘Cape’ is the most recent variety and was developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service [in 1970] at the Cape May Plant Materials Center, Cape May Court House, New Jersey. Material for this release was collected in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It is very vigorous, a heavy culm producer with leaves exceptionally broad, and spreads rapidly by rhizomes.

‘Hatteras’ was developed by the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station and is better adapted to southern climates. Hatteras was developed from a collection of 18 clones screened for vigor and rate of spread. This cultivar is characterized by early vigor.

References

Alderson, J. & C. Sharp 1994. Grass varieties in the United States. Agriculture Handbook No. 170. USDA, Soil Conservation Service, Washington, D.C. 296 pp.

Gleason, H.A. & A. Cronquist 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp.

Hitchcock, A.S. 1951. Manual of the grasses of the United States. Miscellaneous Publication No. 200. USDA, Washington, D.C. 1051 pp.

Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles, & C.R. Bell 1968. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. The university of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 1183

Selisker, D.M. 1995. Coastal dune restoration: A strategy for alleviating dieout of Ammophila breviligulata. Restoration Ecology 3(1):54-60.

Seymour, F.C. 1993. The flora of New England. Privately printed. 611 pp.

Prepared By

Chris Miller

USDA, NRCS, New Jersey State Office

J. Scott Peterson

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Species Coordinator

Chris Miller

USDA, NRCS, New Jersey State Office, Somerset, New Jersey

Edited 05dec00 jsp;07feb03ahv; 30may06jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS Web site<https://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials Program Web site <https://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

Attribution: U.S. Department of Agriculture