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 Cogongrass
(Imperata cylindrica) is an aggressive
colony-forming perennial grass, often
forming circular infestations.
Grass is 1-5 ft. tall, often leaning into
mats when over 3 ft. tall, tufts of long
leaves, yellow-green, blades with off-center
midvein, silver plumed flowers and seeds in
spring, arising from sharp-tipped
white-scaly rhizomes. Flowers in Alabama
from February - May. Brown oblong seeds
appear May-June and are released within
silvery hairy husks for wind dispersal.
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- Cogongrass Interactive Map
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Resembles
johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense),
purpletop (Tridens flavus), silver
plumegrass (Saccharum alopecuroides)
and sugarcane plumegrasses (S.
giganteum), but none have the
off-centered whitish midvein and no
stem.
Grows in full sunlight to partial
shade, and can invade a range of
sites. Aggressively invades
rights-of-way, new forest
plantations, open forests, old
fields and pastures. Colonizes by
rhizomes and spreads by
wind-dispersed seeds. Rapidly
growing and branching rhizomes form
a dense mat enabling it to exclude
most other vegetation. Burns
extremely hot, especially in winter,
and promoted by burning. Absent in
areas with frequent tillage.
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Recommended Treatment:
For the
latest in cogongrass treatment please read
the following papers written by
Dr. Jim Miller, USDA Forest
Service R&D, Auburn University,
and Dr. Stephen F. Enloe, Auburn
University.
Cogongrass Control Recommendations
Cogongrass Control In Longleaf Pine
Additional Resources:
Cogongrass Field Guide
How to Identify Cogongrass - (video)
Stop Cogongrass Hitchhikers
Additional Links:
Alabama Cogongrass Control Center |
Alabama Invasive Plant Council
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Cogongrass.org
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Invasive.org