Tall Mannagrass

Tall Mannagrass

Glyceria maxima

Tall Mannagrass is a long lived, cool season perennial bunchgrass. Tall Mannagrass is a rapidly establishing native species suitable for restoration of swamps, the edges of marshes, ponds, and streams, and other wetland plant communities where an herbaceous understory is desired. It has versatility for use along creeks and ditch bottoms where exposure may vary from full sun to dense shade, thereby improving soil stability beyond the use of woody plants alone. It is rated good to very good for cattle and horses which consume both flower stems and leaves. It is rated fair to good for sheep which tend to use only the leaves. The seed is food for waterfowl and birds while the foliage and tall stems provide good wildlife cover. Foliage is seasonally grazed at a light to heavy rate by deer, muskrat, and bears. It is best adapted to freshwater, semi-aquatic habitats or those that are irregularly to seasonally flooded and saturated for up to 25 percent of the growing season. Tall Mannagrass tolerates open areas but prefers shady habitats.