Stenotaphrum secundatum 'Variegatum'
Buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass, Grama
- Height × spread
- 0.15m × 1m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 5C & above (RHS H1c)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A low-growing tender evergreen grass that is largely pale yellow with green edges to the leaves. These are comparatively broad with rounded ends and form a lively, irregular, semi-prostrate clump. This will gently spread, sending down roots as it travels. It flowers in late summer when it sends up greenish brown spikelets that stand above the foliage. The plant needs a sunny position in humus-rich, well-drained soil that is always moist. It is only hardy in the very warmest parts of the country. Often used as a lawn grass in tropical areas, and useful in coastal regions as it often grows naturally by the sea. It is also grown in containers or as groundcover at the base of other plants in large conservatories or greenhouses. It is generally too tender to survive out of doors all year in the UK. It makes a pleasant container plant for a greenhouse when it should be watered regularly during its season of growth and fed twice monthly with a general fertiliser.
- Flower colour
- Brown
- Foliage colour
- Blue, Cream, Green, White
- Variegated
- Yes
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Prostrate
- Height
- 0.15m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Seaside garden, Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 5C & above (RHS H1c)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- 5C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food
Using a balanced houseplant fertiliser, feed at alternate waterings.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth.
Adopt a regime that means the plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Winter
Winter-Spring · Indoors
Water lightly in winter
The soil should remain just moist during the cold months when the plant is not in growth. Trickle a little water onto the soil surface every couple of weeks if the soil is dry. Do nothing if it is moist.
The roots remain active in winter and benefit from small amounts of moisture so they don't become completely desiccated.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based houseplant compost for repotting
Buy container or house plant compost that is loam based if possible (i.e. is based on John Innes compost number 2 or 3. This contains more fertiliser and is better suited to established plants.
John Innes no. 1 has the lowest level of fertiliser and is used for seedlings and young plants, so is generally used where plants will be 'potted on' after a number of weeks.
Indoor temperature · Planting
5C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 5 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, close to window
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible, within 2-3 metres of a sunny or bright window (one that is south, east, or west facing).