Plant Profile: Aristida stricta

Wire Grass, a warm-season ornamental grass belonging to the Poaceae family, thrives in the sandy hills and coastal plains of the United States. This perennial grass, which can reach heights of 1 to 2 feet, requires burning during the growing season to produce viable seeds.

**Habitat:** Wire Grass is commonly found in various types of Coastal Plain pinelands, from the driest white-sand hills to the seasonally flooded pine savannas, which are primarily composed of longleaf and pond pines. In the wettest savannas, it is often replaced by species such as Sporobolus teretifolius, Sporobolus pinetorum, Muhlenbergia expansa, Ctenium aromaticum, and Calamovilfa brevipilis. Additionally, it can be found in Piedmont regions adjacent to the Coastal Plain, where fire-maintained longleaf pine woodlands once thrived.

**Fire Risk:** With a high flammability rating, Wire Grass should not be planted within the defensible space around your home. It is advisable to choose plants with low flammability ratings for areas closest to your residence.

**Seasons of Interest:**
- **Bloom:** Fall
- **Fruit/Nut/Seed:** Fall/Winter