Spartina
cordgrass
7 species
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Spartina alterniflora – saltwater cordgrass, smooth cordgrass
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in southwestern Washington Washington to California; also in eastern North America, where native.
Habitat: Mudflats, tidal sloughs, and salt marshes.
Origin: Introduced from the Atlantic coast of North America
Flowers: August-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in southwestern Washington Washington to California; also in eastern North America, where native.
Habitat: Mudflats, tidal sloughs, and salt marshes.
Origin: Introduced from the Atlantic coast of North America
Flowers: August-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Spartina anglica – English cordgrass
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia, Washington, and California.
Habitat: Tidal mudflats and salt marshes.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia, Washington, and California.
Habitat: Tidal mudflats and salt marshes.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Spartina densiflora – Chilean cordgrass
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Washington;
Habitat: Rocks, gravel, sand, or mud near high tide line.
Origin: Introduced from Chile
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Washington;
Habitat: Rocks, gravel, sand, or mud near high tide line.
Origin: Introduced from Chile
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Spartina gracilis – alkali cordgrass
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Alkaline shores, stream banks, meadows, and marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Alkaline shores, stream banks, meadows, and marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Spartina patens – saltmeadow cordgrass
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington, where known from Jefferson County. British Columbia to California; also eastern North America, where native.
Habitat: Coastal salt marsh near high tide line.
Origin: Introduced from the Atlantic Coast of North America
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington, where known from Jefferson County. British Columbia to California; also eastern North America, where native.
Habitat: Coastal salt marsh near high tide line.
Origin: Introduced from the Atlantic Coast of North America
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Spartina pectinata – freshwater cordgrass, prairie cordgrass
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; northern Washington to Oregon, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Ditches, ponds, and freshwater marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; northern Washington to Oregon, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Ditches, ponds, and freshwater marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Spartina ×townsendii – Townsend's cordgrass
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest along the coast; southwestern British Columbia to western Washington.
Habitat: Tidal mudflats and salt marshes.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest along the coast; southwestern British Columbia to western Washington.
Habitat: Tidal mudflats and salt marshes.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
