Imperata cylindrica: Uses (Ethnobotany)
It has been used in traditional medicines.
Plant Profile: Imperata cylindrica
Taxonomy: Imperata cylindricaNames
Cogongrass, Cogon Grass, Japanese Blood Grass
Phonetic Spelling:
Genus:Imperata
Species:cylindrica
Family:Poaceae
Japanese Bloodgrass is a highly invasive weed in North Carolina, known for its rapid spread via scaly rhizomes, making it challenging to control. The plant features green leaf blades and seldom produces flowers.
In terms of pests and diseases, it faces no significant threats from insects or illnesses, but its invasive nature remains a concern.
Imperata cylindrica Feature Summary
Imperata cylindrica Image Gallery
Tags
#invasive
#drought tolerant
#weed
#weedy
#high maintenance
#air pollution tolerant
#fast growing
#aggressive
#self-seeding
#poor soils tolerant
#black walnut toxicity tolerant
Similar Plants
Imperata cylindrica Feature Summary
Attributes
It has been used in traditional medicines.
Africa, Europe, Asia
Perennial
Flowers
Infrequently flowers in northern parts of its growing region but flowers freely in tropical areas. 16" long panicle that branch out into racemes.
Raceme
Panicle
Leaves
Basal stiff leaf blades are yellow green 3/4" wide and 30" long with tiny serrated margins, light green or white mid ribs that are of center and pointed tips.
Green
Gold/Yellow
Serrate
> 6 inches
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Weed
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Erect
Spreading
Clumping
Rapid
High
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
3 feet-6 feet
12 inches-3 feet
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Stem
Landscape
Drought
Pollution
Black Walnut
Poor Soil
Weedy
Invasive Species
Imperata cylindrica Image Gallery
Imperata cylindrica Attributes
Imperata cylindrica: Country Or Region Of Origin
Africa, Europe, Asia
Imperata cylindrica: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Imperata cylindrica: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Imperata cylindrica Flowers
Imperata cylindrica: Flower Description
Infrequently flowers in northern parts of its growing region but flowers freely in tropical areas. 16" long panicle that branch out into racemes.
Imperata cylindrica: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Imperata cylindrica Leaves
Imperata cylindrica: Leaf Description
Basal stiff leaf blades are yellow green 3/4" wide and 30" long with tiny serrated margins, light green or white mid ribs that are of center and pointed tips.
Imperata cylindrica: Leaf Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Imperata cylindrica: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Imperata cylindrica: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Imperata cylindrica: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Imperata cylindrica: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Imperata cylindrica Whole Plant Traits
Imperata cylindrica: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Imperata cylindrica: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Imperata cylindrica: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Imperata cylindrica: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Imperata cylindrica Cultural Conditions
Imperata cylindrica: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Imperata cylindrica: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Imperata cylindrica: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Imperata cylindrica: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Imperata cylindrica Stem
Imperata cylindrica: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Imperata cylindrica Landscape
Imperata cylindrica: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Imperata cylindrica: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
