I know you've seen this grass growing along the roads and everywhere.  It is all over our neighborhood.  The reason I am addressing it today is because of some interesting things I read about it.

 

Its botanical name is Microstegium vimineum, and is commonly known as Japanese Stiltgrass, packing grass, or Nepalese brown top.  Interestingly, it was accidentally introduced into the state of Tennessee around 1919 as packing materials in shipments of porcelain from China.  It has since spread across the southeastern U.S. and has become invasive.  And because white-tailed deer do not browse it, (they eat competing plants) they actually help it to grow out of control and choke out native species.

 

I also MISread that it harbors deer ticks.  Actually, what it said is that Stiltgrass is an unfavorable habitat for ticks due to higher temperature and lower humidity.  Sorry, Tom for misleading you on that.  Sky can roll in it if she likes.  

 

There are some benefits, though.  Stiltgrass can serve as a host plant for some native satyr butterflies, and it provides cover for some native amphibians.  And that thing about being an unfavorable habitat for ticks leads to their increased mortality.  That sounds like a good thing, but we probably don't want to grow it in our yards.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!